Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Wakefield
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).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Brookline 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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% |
26.2%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% |
1.4%±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 |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield 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. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below 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%±82.9Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wakefield 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.