Compare towns
Westminster vs Putney vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Westminster | Putney | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 497Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315 39% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Putney 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.