What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).

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	Bristol
People
Population	2,999Highest	2,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	38.5±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol 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%	14.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol 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.	$73,993±$24kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Bristol 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±$35kHighest 18% below U.S.	$237,400±$27kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Westminster and Bristol 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.	$1,279±$120Highest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.	$3,686Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.8%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol and Westminster 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%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#53 of 70 in VT	#79 of 120 in NH
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	—
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
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.