Compare towns
Bow vs Castleton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Bow | Castleton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,453 |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bow School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.