Compare towns
Walden vs Westminster vs Windham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Walden | Westminster | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Windham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.