Compare towns
Newfane vs Putney vs Westminster vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Putney | Westminster | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
2,622 |
2,999Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Putney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Putney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.