Compare towns
Brookline vs Washington vs Westminster vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Washington | Westminster | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,056 |
497Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington 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% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Westminster 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±$37k 8% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Westminster 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 40% above VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | 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 → |
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.