Compare towns

Putney vs Wolfeboro vs Westminster vs Brookline

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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutneyWolfeboroWestminsterBrookline
People
Population
2,622
6,571Highest
2,999
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
53.5±3.7
38% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$94,375±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Wolfeboro 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
10% below U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Wolfeboro 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 #46 of 120 in NH #53 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Governor Wentworth Regional School District Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District —
High school in town None in town Kingswood Regional High School Bellows Falls Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
10.6Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.