What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westminster	Athol
People
Population	2,999Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Westminster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Westminster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S.
	Athol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#53 of 70 in VT	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Bellows Falls Union High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.6Highest
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.