Compare towns
Williston vs Brookfield vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Williston | Brookfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,486Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Brookfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.