Compare towns
Putney vs Stratton vs Marlboro 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stratton | Marlboro | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
532Lowest |
1,362 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Westminster 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Marlboro 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Stratton 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 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Marlboro 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Marlboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Marlboro 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 | — | Marlboro School District | 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 | 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.