Compare towns
Pawlet vs Westminster vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Pawlet | Westminster | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,999Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Westminster and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
| Westminster and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 22% below VT |
$4,063Highest 19% below VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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 | 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.