Compare towns
Westminster vs Dummerston vs Westminster vs Athens
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 the highest household income ($102k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Westminster | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,090 |
497 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Westminster and Athens 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%±6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Athens 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Dummerston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Athens 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.