Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Hampton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookline | Castleton | Hampton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,145 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.