Compare towns

Putney vs Unity 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.

MeasurePutneyUnityBrookline
People
Population
2,622Highest
1,375
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
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%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
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
$87,500±$16kHighest
8% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Unity 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.
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% 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.
$1,625±$804
15% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±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%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%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.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±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 — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Unity 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.