Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Unity vs Hyde Park
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Unity | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
2,622Highest |
1,375 |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.6±10.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% 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% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
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 |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Hyde Park and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$221,800±$57kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,306±$285 8% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Unity 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. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,893Lowest 25% 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% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±47.5 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.