Compare towns

Putney vs Townsend vs Westmoreland

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).

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.

MeasurePutneyTownsendWestmoreland
People
Population
2,622
9,100Highest
2,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
55.3±2.2Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Putney 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%
31.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.2%
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%
3.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$104,444±$28k
29% above U.S.
Townsend and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$351,800±$12k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,354±$280
4% below U.S.
Townsend and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$6,643Highest
113% 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%
32.5%±23.2Lowest
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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Westmoreland 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 —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 North Middlesex Westmoreland School District
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.