Compare towns
Putney vs Cornish vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Cornish | Middlesex | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,816Lowest |
1,943 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cornish 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. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Cornish School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.