Compare towns

Putney vs Eliot 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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.

MeasurePutneyEliotBrookline
People
Population
2,622
7,146Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Eliot 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%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Eliot 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%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot 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%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Eliot 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
10% below U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
Eliot and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Eliot 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 #19 of 133 in ME —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 RSU 35/MSAD 35 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.