Compare towns
Putney vs Surry vs Westminster vs Randolph
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Surry | Westminster | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,052Lowest |
2,999 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Surry 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Surry and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Putney 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 | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.