What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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	Hanover
People
Population	2,999Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
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%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster and Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.