Compare towns
Westminster vs Dorset vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering WestminsterWestminster
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Dorset | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 497Lowest |
2,092 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Dorset 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% |
72.1%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% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Dorset 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±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.