What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Bristol	Westminster
People
Population	3,273Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kHighest about the U.S. average	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Bristol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S.	$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Westminster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Highest 33% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 120 in NH	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Newfound Area School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	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.