Compare towns
Putney vs Wells vs Arlington 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Wells | Arlington | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,148 |
2,598 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Wells and Brookline 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Arlington 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Arlington 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Arlington 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 |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Wells 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Arlington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.