Compare towns
Putney vs Lee vs Arlington 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
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 | Lee | Arlington | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
5,719Highest |
2,598 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Arlington and Lee 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. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lee and Arlington 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. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lee | Arlington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Arlington Memorial | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 20 photos → | 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.