Compare towns
Brookline vs Strafford vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,372 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 8% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Brookline and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.