Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Randolph vs Wells
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Putney | Randolph | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Randolph 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Randolph 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| 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 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| 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 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.