Compare towns
Brookline vs Chester vs Putney
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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Chester | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,992Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Putney 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT 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 8% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| 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 40% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.