Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Putney vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453 |
2,622 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 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. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.