Compare towns
Westminster vs Fairfax vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Fairfax | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Lowest |
5,226Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Walpole 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Fairfax 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. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Walpole 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. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Fairfax School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.