Compare towns
Putney vs Middlesex vs Brookfield vs Underhill
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Brookfield | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,943 |
1,486Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.