Compare towns

Westminster vs Hardwick vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureWestminsterHardwickWestminster
People
Population
497Lowest
2,965
2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
47.1±7.4
9% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
Westminster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±11.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27%±5.9
VT: 21.4%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
33.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Westminster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
$92,297±$17kHighest
14% above VT
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
Hardwick and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,600±$39kHighest
about the VT average
$184,700±$39kLowest
42% below VT
$273,800±$35k
14% below VT
Westminster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
$875±$406
29% below VT
$916±$126Highest
26% below VT
Westminster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480Highest
11% below VT
$4,351
14% below VT
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Westminster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1962
14 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
26% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster 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 #68 of 70 in VT #53 of 70 in VT
School district — Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town — Hazen Union High School Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.6Lowest
10.6Highest
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.