Compare towns

Brookline vs Plainfield vs Putney vs Hyde Park

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 the most people working from home (20.6%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklinePlainfieldPutneyHyde Park
People
Population
531
2,522
2,622Highest
513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
42.6±10.1
10% above U.S.
Brookline and Hyde Park 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.5
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Hyde Park 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%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$89,946±$10k
11% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$221,800±$57kLowest
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,306±$285
8% below U.S.
Brookline and Plainfield 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$3,893Lowest
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±47.5
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Plainfield 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT #59 of 70 in VT
School district — Plainfield School District 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 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.