Compare towns
Westminster vs Rye vs Putney
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Rye | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
5,611Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Westminster 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Rye School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.