Compare towns
Putney vs Townsend vs Calais 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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Townsend | Calais | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,100Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Calais 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Calais 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Calais 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 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.