Compare towns
Westminster vs Brighton vs Putney
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 people working from home (27%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Brighton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,167Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Highest 26% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Westminster and Brighton 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Brighton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 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.