Compare towns
Charleston vs Westminster vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Charleston | Westminster | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
53.5±3.7Lowest 24% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Braintree 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% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Braintree 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% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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±$4k 12% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% 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±$126 26% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Braintree 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.