Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Putney vs Westminster
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 most homeowners (84.9%).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,466 |
2,622Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Dover and Brookline 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster 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 8% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Dover and Westminster 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 |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Westminster 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school 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.