Compare towns
Putney vs Newfields vs Calais 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Calais | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
2,023 |
1,713 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Calais 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Calais 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 | Newfields School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.



