Compare towns
Putnam vs Westminster vs Windham vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Putnam | Westminster | Windham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540 |
497Lowest |
594 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Windham 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% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.