Compare towns
Putney vs Westminster vs Williamstown vs Brookline
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 most people working from home (27%).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Williamstown | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,999 |
3,579Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Putney and Brookline 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 |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Williamstown 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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| 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.