Compare towns
Putney vs Dudley vs Brookline vs Arlington
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Dudley | Brookline | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
11,929Highest |
531Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Dudley 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Arlington 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. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.