Compare towns
Westminster vs Putney vs Stowe
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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Putney | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
2,622Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Westminster and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Stowe 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe 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±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.