Compare towns
Putney vs White River Junction vs Brookline 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 most expensive homes ($300k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Brookline | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,364Highest |
531Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westminster 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookline 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school 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.