Compare towns
Putney vs Hatfield vs Brookline vs Dummerston
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Hatfield | Brookline | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,325Highest |
531Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Dummerston 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%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Hatfield 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% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Hatfield 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. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Dummerston 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. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hatfield | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— | — |
| 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.