Compare towns
Putney vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Nelson | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
648 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Brookline 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Brookline 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% |
61.1%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% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.