Compare towns

Derby vs Dummerston vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

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%).
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.

MeasureDerbyDummerstonWestminster
People
Population
4,537Highest
2,090Lowest
2,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.6±2.1
20% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
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
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Westminster and Derby 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 VT average
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
Dummerston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$225,000±$10kLowest
29% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$273,800±$35k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$118
11% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$916±$126Lowest
26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
$4,063
19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±18.5
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Westminster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
38% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
10.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 — #53 of 70 in VT
School district Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school 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 Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.