Compare towns
Westminster vs Wilder vs Newfane 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Wilder | Newfane | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
3,087Highest |
1,456Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Putney 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Newfane 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 |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Newfane and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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 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.