Compare towns

Putney vs Busti 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

MeasurePutneyBustiBrookline
People
Population
2,622
7,452Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
46.6±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Busti 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%
19.9%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Busti 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%
23.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Busti 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$67,292±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. 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
10% below U.S.
$164,600±$12kLowest
51% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
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
64% below U.S.
$1,085±$106
23% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,876Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
55.5%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Busti and Putney 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%
14.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Putney 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 — —
High school 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.