Compare towns
Putney vs Calais vs Cavendish 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 the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Cavendish has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Calais | Cavendish | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,713 |
1,242Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Cavendish 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Calais and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Calais and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 18 photos → | 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.