What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

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	Needham
People
Population	2,999Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham 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.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% 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%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Needham 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	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	Needham
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.9Highest
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.