Compare towns
Putney vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Nelson | Westminster | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
648Lowest |
2,999 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Westminster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Nelson 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% |
61.1%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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Nelson 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. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% |
1.4%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% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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. |
24 min 8% 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% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nelson 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 | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.