Compare towns
Putney vs Newfane vs Jay vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Newfane | Jay | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,456 |
471Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $916±$126 26% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.