Compare towns
Putney vs Athens vs Cabot vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Athens | Cabot | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
431Lowest |
1,579 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Athens 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest 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 | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% 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 | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,639Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.