Compare towns
Westminster vs Walden vs Hartland
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 most people working from home (27%).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Hartland has the most expensive homes ($349k 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.
| Measure | Westminster | Walden | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
1,037Lowest |
3,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.4%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartland and Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$86,136±$23k 6% above VT |
| Walden and Hartland 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$348,600±$39kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Highest 26% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
— |
| Westminster and Walden 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,437Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Walden 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 | — | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Hartland School District |
| 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 | 12 photos → |
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.