What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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	Standish	Westminster
People
Population	10,662Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kHighest about the U.S. average	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Highest 30% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
	Standish and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 133 in ME	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	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.