Compare towns
Putney vs Middlesex vs Chesterfield 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Middlesex | Chesterfield | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,943 |
3,622Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Brookline 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% 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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #52 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.