Compare towns
Westmore vs Putney vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Westmore | Putney | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
2,622Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Westmore and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Westmore and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820 15% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.