What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Westminster
People
Population	5,994Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Lowest 38% above U.S.
	Alton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$916±$126 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Highest 34% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#72 of 120 in NH	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.