Compare towns
Putney vs Rye vs Williston vs Westminster
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Rye | Williston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
5,611 |
10,144Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Rye and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rye and Williston 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Williston and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rye School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 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.