Compare towns
Westminster vs Bridgewater vs Putney vs Newfane
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 (18.2% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Bridgewater | Putney | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
980Lowest |
2,622 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.