Compare towns
Hancock vs Putney vs Surry 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
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Hancock | Putney | Surry | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
2,622 |
1,052Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Surry and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Surry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Surry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 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 | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 | — | 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 |
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.