Compare towns
Walden vs Westminster vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k 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 | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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±$15k 8% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston 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±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Westminster 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 10% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.