Compare towns

Putney vs Keene vs Brookline

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 most expensive homes ($300k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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.

MeasurePutneyKeeneBrookline
People
Population
2,622
22,939Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Putney 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%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookline and Keene 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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
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
64% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
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%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
32% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #81 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Keene School District —
High school in town None in town Keene High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.