Compare towns
Westminster vs Ogunquit vs Putney vs Rochester
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Putney | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,622 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Rochester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
— | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$929±$158Highest 34% below U.S. |
| Rochester 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Putney 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rochester 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | 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 | None yet |
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.