Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Putney vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Brookline 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 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 |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above 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% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% 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% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.