Compare towns
Putney vs Mason vs Brookline vs Underhill
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).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Mason | Brookline | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,451 |
531Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Mason and Underhill 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. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mason School District | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.