Compare towns
Westminster vs Brookline vs Townshend
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Brookline | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
531Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% 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 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Brookline and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.