Compare towns
Westminster vs Putney vs Williston vs Brookline
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Williston | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Williston and Brookline 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Williston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315 39% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,732±$232 40% above VT |
| Williston and Brookline 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.