Compare towns
Putney vs Unity vs Randolph 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).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Unity | Randolph | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,375 |
4,843Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% 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. |
40.4±7.4 4% 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% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 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% |
40.8% 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% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below 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. |
$278,700±$38k 16% 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. |
$1,172±$173 17% below 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. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,000 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% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest 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. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below 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% |
12.9%±4.7 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Unity School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



