Compare towns

Brookline vs Putney vs Sunapee

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k 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.

MeasureBrooklinePutneySunapee
People
Population
531Lowest
2,622
3,416Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Putney 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%
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Highest
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%
4.5%±3.5
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
$101,393±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Sunapee 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.
$393,000±$51kHighest
18% above U.S.
Sunapee 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
23% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,713±$451
21% above U.S.
Brookline and Sunapee 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.
$4,400Lowest
41% 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%
34.6%±10.5Lowest
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%
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Putney 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 #14 of 120 in NH
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Sunapee School District
High school in town — None in town Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.9
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.