Compare towns
Derby vs Dummerston vs Walpole 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
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Derby | Dummerston | Walpole | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,090Lowest |
3,690 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| 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.