Compare towns
Westminster vs Jay vs Salisbury 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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | Jay | Salisbury | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497 |
471Lowest |
1,200 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Jay and Salisbury 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Westminster 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 U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster 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. |
— | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.