Compare towns
Manchester vs Wardsboro vs Winhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
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 | Manchester | Wardsboro | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
820 |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
48.9±6.1Lowest 13% above VT |
| Manchester and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$95,500±$23kHighest 18% above VT |
| Winhall and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 18% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester and Winhall 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.