Compare towns
Westminster vs Cornwall vs Orleans
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 most people working from home (27%).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Cornwall | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,208 |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Westminster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Cornwall 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Cornwall and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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 VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Cornwall 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.