Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor 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
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
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 | Castleton | Proctor | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,622 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Putney and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.