Compare towns
Putney vs Ware vs Westminster vs Arlington
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).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Ware | Westminster | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
10,048Highest |
2,999 |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Arlington 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Arlington 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Ware 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Westminster 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ware | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
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.