Compare towns
Westminster vs Worcester vs Middlesex vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
831Lowest |
1,943 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.