Compare towns
Brookline vs Orwell vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Orwell | Windham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,294 |
594 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Windham 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Windham 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Windham and Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.