Compare towns
Westminster vs Lancaster 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 homeowners (88.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Lancaster | Newfane | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
3,216Highest |
1,456Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Lancaster 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | White Mountains Regional 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 | 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.