Compare towns
Westminster vs Sidney vs Putney vs Athens
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%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Sidney | Putney | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
4,790Highest |
2,622 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Athens 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% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Sidney 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 18% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Athens 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Athens 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | RSU 18 | 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 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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