Compare towns
Putney vs Olean 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Olean | Westminster | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,999 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Olean 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Underhill and Putney 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$916±$126Highest 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Westminster and Olean 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,063 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% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Underhill 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #53 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | OLEAN CITY 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 | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.