Compare towns
Westminster vs Putney vs Olean
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 people working from home (27%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k 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 | Putney | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,622 |
1,664Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Westminster 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Olean 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Olean 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
| Putney and Olean 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Highest 35% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$666±$334 53% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Olean 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.