Compare towns
Brookline vs Madison 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
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Madison | Putney | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,680Highest |
2,622 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%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. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Madison 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Madison 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Madison 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. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% 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. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Madison 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. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%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% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below 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% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | Madison 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 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.