Compare towns
Putney vs Strafford vs Windham 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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Strafford | Windham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,372 |
16,038Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 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 |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Windham 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| 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.