Compare towns
Brookline vs Hancock vs Putney vs Newfane
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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Hancock | Putney | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,791 |
2,622Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Newfane 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hancock 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 13% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfane 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Newfane 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.