What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Westminster	Bethlehem
People
Population	2,999Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Bethlehem 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.	$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Bethlehem 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±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.	$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster and Bethlehem 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%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.