Compare towns
Stannard vs Westminster vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Stannard | Westminster | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 228Lowest |
2,999Highest |
381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±14.6Lowest 12% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±8.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 17% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.