Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Putney | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Rockingham 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Rockingham 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% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% 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 |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,887Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.