Compare towns
Westminster vs Northfield vs Castleton 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 people working from home (27%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Northfield | Castleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
5,920Highest |
4,453 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Castleton 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Castleton 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.