Compare towns
Westminster vs Castleton vs Calais vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Westminster | Castleton | Calais | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,713 |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Calais and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Calais and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 44% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.