Compare towns
Westminster vs Castleton vs Williston 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Castleton | Williston | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Williston 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Williston 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Williston 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 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.