Compare towns
Cambridge vs Castleton 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
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the highest household income ($80k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Cambridge | Castleton | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
4,453Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Putney 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.