Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Putney vs Windsor
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,466 |
2,622 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% 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 |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windsor 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%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Lowest 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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
| 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Dover and Putney 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,209 3% above 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% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest 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 |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest 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 | #61 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 History | 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.