Compare towns
Putney vs Windham vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Windham | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
16,038Highest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Brattleboro 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.

