Compare towns

Westminster vs Worcester 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureWestminsterWorcesterWalpole
People
Population
497Lowest
831
3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% 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%
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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
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.
$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.
$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.
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
Walpole and Worcester 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.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
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%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 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 minHighest
13% above U.S.
29 min
9% above 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%
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 Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.