Compare towns
Putney vs Lee vs Brookline vs Randolph
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).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Brookline | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
5,719Highest |
531Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Randolph 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% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%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% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Lee 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±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lee and Putney 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Putney 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 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. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lee | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
— | 9.4Highest |
| 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.