Compare towns
Walpole vs Dummerston vs Bellows Falls vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Walpole | Dummerston | Bellows Falls | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,891 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.