Compare towns
Putney vs Hancock 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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% 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.
| Measure | Putney | Hancock | Brookline | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,791 |
531Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 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 |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Underhill and Hancock 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. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 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% |
4.1%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% |
85.6%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. |
1969Lowest 11 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. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Contoocook Valley School District | — | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.