What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putney	Brighton
People
Population	2,622Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT	45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT
	Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brighton and Putney 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%	27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
	Putney and Brighton 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	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT	$775±$33Highest 37% below VT
	Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,313Highest 5% above VT	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Putney and Brighton 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	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.