What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Westminster has the most kids (18.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charleston	Westminster
People
Population	936Lowest	2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT	53.5±3.7Lowest 24% above VT
	Charleston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Westminster and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%	27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Charleston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7%
	Westminster and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT	$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT	$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT
	Westminster and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Highest 21% below VT	$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT
	Charleston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 26% below VT	$4,063Highest 19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Westminster and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 4 yrs newer than VT	1980 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Westminster and Charleston 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	Charleston School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school 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

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.