Compare towns
Gilsum vs Putney vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Gilsum | Putney | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
2,622 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Gilsum and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Gilsum and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579 79% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

