Compare towns
Putney vs Westminster vs Arlington vs Randolph
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Westminster | Arlington | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,999 |
2,598Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Randolph 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| 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 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| 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 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 13% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Arlington School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Arlington Memorial | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
10.6Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.