Compare towns
Westminster vs Arlington vs Braintree
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 homeowners (88.2%).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Arlington | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,598 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Arlington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Arlington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Arlington School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.