Compare towns
Westminster vs Hardwick vs Newfane 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Hardwick | Newfane | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,965 |
1,456Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Newfane 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.