Compare towns
Westminster vs Durham vs Newfane 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 most kids (18.2% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Newfane | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
10,681Highest |
1,456Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Durham 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±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Durham and Newfane 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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 History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.