Compare towns

Brookline vs Eliot 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 kids (20% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.

MeasureBrooklineEliotPutney
People
Population
531Lowest
7,146Highest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Eliot and Brookline 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%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
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
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
Eliot 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.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Eliot and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Eliot 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 — #19 of 133 in ME #32 of 70 in VT
School district — RSU 35/MSAD 35 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

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.