Compare towns

Brookline vs Hancock 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 people working from home (20.6%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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.

MeasureBrooklineHancockPutney
People
Population
531
435Lowest
2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
5% above VT
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
37.2±5.2
14% below VT
Brookline and Putney 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%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
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
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Hancock 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%
VT: 43.8%
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the VT average
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT 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
8% below VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
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
40% above VT
$939±$19
24% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
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%
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
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 — — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.