What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

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

Measure	Bedford	Westminster
People
Population	23,746Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 120 in NH	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Bedford School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Bedford High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.