Compare towns

Putney vs Belgrade 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).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).

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.

MeasurePutneyBelgradeBrookline
People
Population
2,622
3,351Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
47.3±14.6Highest
22% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Belgrade and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Belgrade 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%
23.9%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Belgrade and Brookline 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%
49.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$88,338±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Belgrade 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.
$312,200±$44kHighest
6% below U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Belgrade 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.
$857±$108
39% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,859Lowest
8% below U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.2%±35.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Belgrade 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 #71 of 133 in ME —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 RSU 18 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.