Compare towns
Putney vs Dorset 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Dorset | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
2,092 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Dorset 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Dorset 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.