Compare towns
Putney vs Jay vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
471Lowest |
1,943 |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Westmoreland 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. |
— | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,354±$280Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Middlesex 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,643Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.