Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Walpole vs Windham
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).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Walpole | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
3,690Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Windham 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% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% 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% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±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 |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% 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% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Walpole 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 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% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.