Compare towns
Putney vs Whiting vs Strafford 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).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Whiting | Strafford | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
532 |
1,372 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Brookline 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Whiting 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Putney 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.