Compare towns

Brookline vs Derry 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 people working from home (20.6%).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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.

MeasureBrooklineDerryPutney
People
Population
531Lowest
21,339Highest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
41±3
5% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Brookline and Derry 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%
19.9%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookline and Putney 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%
36.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$91,673±$11kHighest
14% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
Derry 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±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$391,200±$23kHighest
18% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,549±$137
10% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Brookline and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$7,278Highest
133% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry 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%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #60 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT
School district — — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.