Compare towns
Putney vs Waterville vs Newfane 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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Waterville | Newfane | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
680 |
1,456 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Newfane and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| 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 59% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Newfane 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Newfane 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| 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.