Compare towns

Brookline vs Putney vs Salisbury

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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

MeasureBrooklinePutneySalisbury
People
Population
531Lowest
2,622Highest
1,609
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
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
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
Salisbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
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 min
8% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury 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 —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Merrimack Valley School District
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.