Compare towns
Putney vs Windham vs Calais vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Calais has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Windham | Calais | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
16,038Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Calais 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.