Compare towns
Madbury vs Westminster vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Madbury | Westminster | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,999 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school 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 |
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.