Compare towns
Putney vs Athens vs Walpole vs Brookline
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).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Walpole | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
431Lowest |
3,690Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.3±6.5Highest 22% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Athens and Walpole 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% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Athens 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole 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. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Walpole 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Athens 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.