Compare towns
Putney vs Wardsboro vs Dover 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Wardsboro | Dover | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
820Lowest |
1,466 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Westminster 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover and Putney 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Putney 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None 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.