Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Underhill 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% 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 | Williston | Underhill | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,141 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.