Compare towns
Putney vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,337Highest |
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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Putney 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putney and Thompson 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.