Compare towns
Westminster vs Arlington vs Brookfield
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k 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 | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,598 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Westminster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Brookfield 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.