Compare towns

Brookline vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.

MeasureBrooklineWalpolePutney
People
Population
531Lowest
3,690Highest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Walpole 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%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole 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%
25.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole 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%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
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
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
Walpole 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
13% below U.S.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Walpole 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.
$1,165±$150
18% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Walpole 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%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #27 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT
School district — Fall Mountain Regional 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

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.