Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Chester | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,622Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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 | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union 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 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.