Compare towns
Westminster vs Underhill vs Putney vs Newfane
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Underhill | Putney | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
3,141Highest |
2,622 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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 VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Newfane 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% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.