Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Putney vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Putney | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Rupert 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 |
VT 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.