Compare towns
Brookline vs Hampton vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Sheldon | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,145 |
2,267 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Hampton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| 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 13% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Sheldon 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Putney 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 | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.