Compare towns
Putney vs Calais vs Dover 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).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Calais | Dover | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,713 |
1,466 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Calais and Dover 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 |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Dover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.