Compare towns

Putney vs Fall River 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).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.

MeasurePutneyFall RiverBrookline
People
Population
2,622
94,082Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookline and Putney 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%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% 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±$44k
10% below U.S.
$395,500±$11kHighest
19% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,155±$27
18% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
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 #262 of 282 in MA —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical —
High school in town None in town B M C Durfee High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
—
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.