Compare towns
Lee vs Putney vs Westminster vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Washington has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Lee | Putney | Westminster | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
2,622 |
2,999 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lee | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.