What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Sandown	Westminster
People
Population	6,628Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±3.7Lowest 5% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sandown and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sandown and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$483,400±$44kHighest 45% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,801Highest 182% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sandown and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sandown 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	#71 of 120 in NH	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Timberlane Regional 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

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.