Compare towns
Westminster vs Brattleboro vs Calais
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).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Brattleboro | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
12,122Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Brattleboro 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% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brattleboro 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 VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Brattleboro 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 |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Calais 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.