Compare towns
Dalton 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
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Dalton | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Putney and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Putney and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 38% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$916±$126Highest 35% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest 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 | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.