Compare towns
Athens vs Dummerston vs Williston vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Athens | Dummerston | Williston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,090 |
10,144Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.