Compare towns
Westminster vs Swanton vs Putney
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 most people working from home (27%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Swanton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,670 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Swanton 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% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Westminster 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 min 9% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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.