Compare towns
Nelson vs Westminster vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Nelson | Westminster | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,999Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Westminster and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.