Compare towns
Brookline vs Topsham 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 the most people working from home (20.6%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Topsham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
999 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Topsham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| 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 40% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,006Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.