Compare towns
Putney vs Wells River vs Brookline vs Underhill
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).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Wells River | Brookline | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
340Lowest |
531 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Wells River 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,154Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Underhill 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school 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.