Compare towns
Putney vs Sutton vs Wilbraham 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Wilbraham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
9,452 |
14,572Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Wilbraham 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Wilbraham 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
14.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.