Compare towns
Putney vs Wolfeboro vs Middlesex 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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Wolfeboro | Middlesex | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
6,571Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Westminster 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% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.