Compare towns
Westminster vs Worcester vs Sheldon vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Westminster | Worcester | Sheldon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
831 |
2,267Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest 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+ | 45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above 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 | $313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 11% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.