Compare towns
White River Junction vs Westford vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | White River Junction | Westford | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
2,290Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Westford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Westford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westford 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.