Compare towns

Putney vs Milton 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).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).

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.

MeasurePutneyMiltonBrookline
People
Population
2,622
28,587Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
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.
41.1±1.8
6% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Brookline and Milton 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%
25.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Milton and Brookline 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%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Highest
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%
71.9%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%
9.7%±1.1
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
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,474±$281
4% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Milton 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.
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±20.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Brookline 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 70 in VT #55 of 282 in MA —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Milton —
High school in town None in town Milton High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 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.