Compare towns
Westminster vs Bethlehem vs Putney vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Westminster | Bethlehem | Putney | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,537 |
2,622 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Putney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 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 | 8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #34 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Profile Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.