Compare towns
Westminster vs Dummerston vs Rochester vs Derby
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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Dummerston | Rochester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
2,090 |
1,389Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Westminster and Rochester 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Derby 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 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Derby 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | — | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.