Compare towns
Westminster vs Hanson 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 people working from home (27%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Hanson | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
10,660Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Westminster 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Whitman-Hanson | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.