Compare towns
Putney vs Durham 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 most affordable homes ($300k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
15,080Highest |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Westmoreland 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,354±$280 4% below U.S. |
| Durham and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,643 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Putney 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Oyster River Coop School District | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.