Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Newfields 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 the most kids (20% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Newfields | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,023 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest 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 |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Brookline 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% 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% |
7.5%±7.2 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±$16k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Brookline 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest 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. |
1991Highest 11 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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 | Newfields School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.