Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Saco
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 the most kids (20% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Saco 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Saco 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Saco 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Saco and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Saco 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.