Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Putney vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemPutneyWestminster
People
Population
2,537Lowest
2,622
2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bethlehem and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,029±$18kHighest
5% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
Putney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
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
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Westminster 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 #34 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT #53 of 70 in VT
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School None in town Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
—
10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.