Compare towns
Windham vs Putney vs Sharon vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Windham | Putney | Sharon | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
2,622Highest |
1,577 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.