Compare towns

Putney vs Hyde Park 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).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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.

MeasurePutneyHyde ParkCastletonBrookline
People
Population
2,622
513Lowest
4,453Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
42.6±10.1
about the VT average
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
45.1±2.7Highest
5% above VT
Brookline and Hyde Park 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%
22.6%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
Hyde Park 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
VT: 21.4%
16.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Castleton 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2Lowest
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
$89,946±$10kHighest
11% above VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
Hyde Park 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
$221,800±$57kLowest
30% below VT
$224,800±$71k
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
$1,306±$285
6% above VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$3,893
23% 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%
42.1%±47.5Lowest
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%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.6%
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
26 min
11% above VT
19 min
17% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
7.9%±5.3
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 #59 of 70 in VT #39 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school in town None in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.