Compare towns
Putney vs Appleton vs Brookline vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Putney | Appleton | Brookline | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,360 |
531Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Appleton Public Schools | — | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.