Compare towns
Westminster vs Newfields vs Walpole 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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Walpole | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
2,023Lowest |
3,690Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Walpole 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Walpole 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Newfields 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Newfields School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 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.