Compare towns

Putney vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

MeasurePutneyPutnamBrookline
People
Population
2,622
9,292Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Brookline and Putnam 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%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Putnam 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%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookline and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Putney and Brookline 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.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
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%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Putney 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 #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Putnam School District —
High school in town None in town Putnam High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5
—
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.