Compare towns
Stoddard vs Westminster vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Stoddard | Westminster | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
2,999Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4 36% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 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+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316 38% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest 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 | Stoddard School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Nelson 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.