Compare towns
Newfane vs Putnam 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
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Newfane | Putnam | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
540Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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 History | 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.