Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Putney
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Plainfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,016 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Putney 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Putney 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brookline 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. |
$750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Putney 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 | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.