Compare towns
Hartland vs Amherst 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
Hartland has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Hartland | Amherst | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
11,861Highest |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,437 106% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Westminster 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | #20 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartland School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.