Compare towns
Walden vs Westminster vs Worcester
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 most affordable homes ($239k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
497Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Walden and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Walden and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.