Compare towns

Putney vs Westminster vs Windham 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 most people working from home (27%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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.

MeasurePutneyWestminsterWindhamRandolph
People
Population
2,622
2,999
594Lowest
4,843Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Windham 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%
48.1%
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%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
Windham 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
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
Windham 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
—
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
Randolph and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
5% above VT
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,698
7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Randolph 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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
27 minHighest
14% above VT
21 min
12% below VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster and Windham 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 — #55 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town Bellows Falls Union High School — Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
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.