What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westminster	Bedford
People
Population	2,999Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Westminster 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%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford 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±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#53 of 70 in VT	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.