Compare towns
Brookline vs Nelson vs Putney vs Westminster
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Nelson | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
648 |
2,622 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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 23% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.