Compare towns
Fairlee 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
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Fairlee | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
2,622Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.