Compare towns
Putney vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
32,459Highest |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,354±$280 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,643 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.