Compare towns

Putney vs Hancock vs Randolph vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Randolph has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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.

MeasurePutneyHancockRandolphWestminster
People
Population
2,622
435Lowest
4,843Highest
2,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
-0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2
14% below VT
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Randolph 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
VT: 43.8%
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
46.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$76,250±$34k
6% below VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$273,800±$35k
14% below VT
Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$939±$19
24% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
$916±$126
26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$4,698
7% below VT
$4,063
19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
21 min
12% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster 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 — #55 of 70 in VT #53 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town None in town — Randolph Union High School Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.4Lowest
10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.