Compare towns
Brookline vs Unity vs Windham 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 kids (20% under 18).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Unity | Windham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,375 |
594 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Windham 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Windham and Putney 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. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
— | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | Unity School District | — | 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 | 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.