Compare towns
Putney vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Westminster | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
11,685Highest |
2,999 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Westminster 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% 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. |
1976Lowest 4 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. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
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.