Compare towns
Putney vs Saco vs Dummerston 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Saco | Dummerston | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
20,819Highest |
2,090 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Dummerston 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%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% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Saco Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.