Compare towns
Putney vs Highgate vs Castleton vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Highgate | Castleton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,528 |
4,453Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
| Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Castleton 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 VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Highgate 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.