Compare towns
Appleton vs Rochester vs Westminster vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Appleton | Rochester | Westminster | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,389 |
2,999Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
$4,063Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester 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 | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.