Compare towns
Putney vs Walden vs Williston vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Walden | Williston | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,037 |
10,144Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Walden and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Williston and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,732±$232 40% above VT |
| Williston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Walden 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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 |
VT 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.