Compare towns

Brookline vs Fall River vs Putney vs Westminster

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 homeowners (84.9%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.

MeasureBrooklineFall RiverPutneyWestminster
People
Population
531
94,082Highest
2,622
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$81,000±$22kHighest
about the U.S. 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
13% below U.S.
$395,500±$11kHighest
19% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,155±$27
18% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$749±$315
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Fall River 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%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 — #262 of 282 in MA #32 of 70 in VT #53 of 70 in VT
School district — Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town — B M C Durfee High None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
— —
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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.