Compare towns
Putney vs Bethel vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Bethel | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,736Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest 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+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Bethel 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 VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White River Unified School District #79 | 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 Our Story | 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.