Compare towns
Putney vs Berlin vs Westminster vs Randolph
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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Berlin | Westminster | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
3,378 |
2,999 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Berlin 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Randolph 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Westminster 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% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #61 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Berlin-Boylston | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.