Compare towns
Chester vs Townshend vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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.
| Measure | Chester | Townshend | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,538 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Townshend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Townshend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.