Compare towns
Fairfax 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
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Fairfax | Dummerston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fairfax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Fairfax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.