Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Williamson
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).
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k 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 | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
6,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.9±4.2 5% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Williamson 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Williamson 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% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williamson and Brookline 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% |
34.2%Lowest 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%±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 |
$90,515±$14kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Williamson 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±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$192,700±$18kLowest 42% 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. |
$659±$304 53% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,172 66% 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% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5Lowest 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 | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.