Compare towns
Westminster vs Bennington vs Westminster
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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Bennington | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
15,249Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Bennington 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington 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 12% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster 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 14% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster 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 |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.