Compare towns

Putney vs Dalton vs Westminster vs Underhill

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).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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.

MeasurePutneyDaltonWestminsterUnderhill
People
Population
2,622Lowest
6,256Highest
2,999
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
49.7±5.8
28% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
38.1±11.4
about the U.S. average
Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dalton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$79,438±$8k
about the U.S. average
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above U.S.
Underhill and Putney 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.
$295,700±$26k
11% below U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$872±$70
38% below U.S.
$916±$126Highest
35% below U.S.
—
Westminster and Dalton 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.
$4,276
37% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$6,697Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±19
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
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%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Underhill 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 #192 of 282 in MA #53 of 70 in VT #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Central Berkshire Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town Wahconah Regional High Bellows Falls Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9Highest
10.6Lowest
—
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.