Compare towns
Westminster vs Barton 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%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Barton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
730Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Walpole 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% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Walpole 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. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% 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 | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% 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. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster 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. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.