Compare towns
Westminster vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Appleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton 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 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Westminster 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. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 30% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | 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 | 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.