What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Westminster	Petersham
People
Population	497Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S.	$4,636Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster and Petersham 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	—	Petersham
High school in town	—	None in town
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.