Compare towns
Brookline vs Jay vs Middlesex 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
471Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Jay and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 8% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
— | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.