What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Westminster
People
Population	2,680Lowest	2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 29% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
	Westminster and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 31% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Madison 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 History	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.