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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Putnam | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
540 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% 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. |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.