Compare towns
Putney vs Acton vs Westminster vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Putney | Acton | Westminster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,721 |
2,999Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Acton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton Public Schools | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.