Compare towns
Poultney vs Putney vs Westminster vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Poultney | Putney | Westminster | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033 |
2,622 |
2,999Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Putney and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$113 30% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.