Compare towns
Windham vs Putney vs Athens vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Putney | Athens | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
2,622Highest |
431Lowest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.