Compare towns
Townshend vs Westminster vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Townshend | Westminster | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.