Compare towns
Putney vs Holbrook 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).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Holbrook | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
11,380Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Holbrook 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Highest 23% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Holbrook and Westminster 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. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Holbrook | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.