Compare towns
Putney vs Benson vs Northfield 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).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Benson | Northfield | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
784 |
5,920Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Benson 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Northfield 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Putney 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Benson 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.