Compare towns
Westminster vs Bow vs Putney
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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Bow | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
8,335Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Bow School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.