Compare towns
Putney vs Hampden vs Brookline vs Underhill
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).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Hampden | Brookline | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,946Highest |
531Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Hampden 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 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Brookline 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% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Underhill 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. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Brookline 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Underhill 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hampden-Wilbraham | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.