Compare towns
Westminster vs Sandgate vs Putney vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
435Lowest |
2,622 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Sandgate and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster 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 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Highest 26% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Westminster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| 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 | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.