Compare towns
Brookline vs Springfield vs Westminster 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 the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Westminster | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,122 |
497Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 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 |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Westminster 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$749±$315 47% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #32 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 | 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.