Compare towns

Brookline vs Dover vs Putney vs Windham

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 kids (20% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureBrooklineDoverPutneyWindham
People
Population
531Lowest
1,466
2,622Highest
594
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
44.2±7.4
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%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Windham 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%
48.1%
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%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham 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±$55k
5% above VT
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Dover 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
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,313
5% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
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%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
27 min
14% 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%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Dover 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 — — #32 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.