Compare towns
Westminster vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
15,080Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Durham 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.