Compare towns
Westminster vs Ware vs Putney vs Hartland
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%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hartland has the most expensive homes ($349k 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 | Ware | Putney | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
10,048Highest |
2,622Lowest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$86,136±$23kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$348,600±$39kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Ware and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,437Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Putney 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Ware | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 12 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.