Compare towns
Brookline vs Salem vs Putney
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%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Salem | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,611 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Salem and Brookline 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% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% 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. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.