Compare towns
Townshend vs Westminster vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k 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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,999Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
| Townshend and Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
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| 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.