Compare towns
Brookline vs Fairlee vs Windham vs Putney
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).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Fairlee | Windham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,066 |
594 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| 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±$37k 8% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney 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% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | 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.