Compare towns
Brookline vs Halifax vs Putney vs Andover
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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Halifax | Putney | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
7,748Highest |
2,622 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover 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% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Andover 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. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.