Compare towns

Brookline vs Putney vs Windham vs Newfane

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

MeasureBrooklinePutneyWindhamNewfane
People
Population
531Lowest
2,622
16,038Highest
1,456
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
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%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,266±$238
10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,174
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane 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 #13 of 120 in NH —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham School District West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
—
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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.