Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Royalton vs Windham
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 kids (20% under 18).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Royalton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
2,752Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Royalton and Windham 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Putney 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.