Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Westminster
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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Castleton | Plainfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,453Highest |
2,522Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District | 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 | 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.