Compare towns
Appleton vs Westminster vs Union vs Orland
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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k 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 | Westminster | Union | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,663 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Orland 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% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Orland 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% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Union 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Orland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Union and Orland 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. |
$4,063Highest 30% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Westminster 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Orland 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school 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.