What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Hampden
People
Population	2,999Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden 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±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Hampden and Westminster 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.	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.
	Hampden and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	RSU 22
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.