Compare towns
Putney vs Peru vs Arlington 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Peru | Arlington | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
434Lowest |
2,598 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Peru and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Peru and Arlington 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 |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Peru and Arlington 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Arlington School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Arlington Memorial | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.