Compare towns
Putney vs Halifax vs Underhill 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).
Halifax has the highest household income ($119k).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Halifax | Underhill | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
7,748Highest |
3,141 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Halifax 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% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest 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 |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Underhill 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. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Underhill 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. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #2 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.