Compare towns
Putney vs Brookline vs Arlington vs Cambridge
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).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Brookline | Arlington | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
531Lowest |
2,598 |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Arlington 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 5% below VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
| Cambridge and Arlington 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Cambridge 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Arlington School District | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.