Compare towns

Brookline vs Putney vs Windham vs Westminster

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).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrooklinePutneyWindhamWestminster
People
Population
531
2,622Highest
1,432
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
56.5±5.1Highest
45% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster 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%
31.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
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%
6.6%±5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
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
$76,477±$17kLowest
5% below U.S.
$81,000±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
Westminster 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.
$315,600±$74kHighest
5% below U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Windham and Westminster 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.
$850±$295
40% below U.S.
$749±$315
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,363Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
68.9%±35.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Putney 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%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Brookline 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 — #53 of 70 in VT
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.