Compare towns

Brookline vs Westminster vs Putney vs Andover

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 kids (20% under 18).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklineWestminsterPutneyAndover
People
Population
531Lowest
2,999Highest
2,622
616
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
Westminster and Andover 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%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Westminster 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%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.7%±4.3
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Andover 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%
46.3%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
43.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$102,500±$38kHighest
26% above VT
Andover 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
$273,800±$35kLowest
14% below VT
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$382,900±$68kHighest
21% above VT
Andover 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
$916±$126
26% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,389±$364
13% above VT
Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$5,190
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
69.4%±47.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Andover and Putney 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%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.8%
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
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
18 minLowest
24% below VT
25 min
7% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.6%±12.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Andover and Westminster 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 — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town — Bellows Falls Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.