Compare towns
Putney vs Wardsboro vs Dover 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Wardsboro | Dover | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
820 |
1,466 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Wardsboro 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% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Putney 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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.