Compare towns

Brookline vs Putney vs Waterville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

MeasureBrooklinePutneyWaterville
People
Population
531Lowest
2,622Highest
680
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
Waterville and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±8.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Waterville and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the VT average
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
$236,300±$15kLowest
25% below VT
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
40% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,110±$93
10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$3,957Lowest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
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%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
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 —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.