Compare towns
Westminster vs Middlebury 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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Middlebury | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
9,175Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Middlebury 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 VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Middlebury 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±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Middlebury 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.