Compare towns
Westminster vs Appleton vs Mapleton 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 people working from home (27%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
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 | Appleton | Mapleton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% 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 | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.