Compare towns

Brookline vs Westminster vs Putney vs Hyde Park

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureBrooklineWestminsterPutneyHyde Park
People
Population
531
2,999Highest
2,622
513Lowest
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
42.6±10.1
about the VT average
Kids under 18
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Hyde Park 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%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
16.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster 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%
46.3%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%Lowest
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%
2.1%±2Lowest
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
$89,946±$10kHighest
11% above VT
Hyde Park 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±$35k
14% below VT
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
$221,800±$57kLowest
30% 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
$916±$126
26% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,306±$285
6% above VT
Brookline and Hyde Park 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
$4,063
19% below VT
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$3,893Lowest
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.1%±47.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Westminster 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%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%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%
79.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
18 minLowest
24% below VT
26 min
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
7.9%±5.3Lowest
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 #59 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.