Compare towns
Cambridge vs Brookline vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Cambridge | Brookline | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Highest |
531Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.