Compare towns
Putney vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Salisbury | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
9,281Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Putney 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Triton | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school 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 | 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.