Compare towns
Westminster vs Worcester vs Sheldon 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Worcester | Sheldon | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
831 |
2,267 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Walpole 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Sheldon 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Westminster 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Walpole 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole 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±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Worcester 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.