Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Ryegate vs Westminster
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Ryegate | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
1,059 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Brookline 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%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% 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 |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.