What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	2,999Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham 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%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.