Compare towns

Putney vs Brookline vs Westminster vs Westmoreland

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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Westmoreland has the highest household income ($104k).

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.

MeasurePutneyBrooklineWestminsterWestmoreland
People
Population
2,622
531Lowest
2,999Highest
2,237
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
53.5±3.7
38% above U.S.
55.3±2.2Highest
42% above U.S.
Westmoreland and Westminster 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%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
14.5%±3.4Lowest
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%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westmoreland 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%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
$104,444±$28kHighest
29% above U.S.
Westmoreland and Brookline 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.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
$351,800±$12kHighest
6% above U.S.
Westmoreland 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.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
$1,354±$280
4% below U.S.
Brookline and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$6,643Highest
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
32.5%±23.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Westminster 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%
6.2%Lowest
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%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±6.3Lowest
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 — #53 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Westmoreland School District
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 Our Story 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.