Compare towns
Westminster vs Putnam vs Newfane
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).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Putnam | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
540Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Lowest 38% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Newfane 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— | $1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Newfane 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
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.