Compare towns
Westminster vs Middlesex vs Sheldon
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.