Compare towns
Calais vs Putney vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Calais | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,622Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.3±11.5Highest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.