What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Chenango	Westminster
People
Population	10,787Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chenango and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chenango and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,646±$9kHighest 7% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S.	$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Highest 27% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
	Chenango and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S.	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#233 of 484 in NY	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.