Compare towns

Windham vs Braintree vs Worcester vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureWindhamBraintreeWorcesterWestminster
People
Population
594
1,026Highest
831
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
33.2%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4
VT: 21.4%
Braintree and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
30.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.8%±1.3
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$79,803±$5k
about the VT average
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$313,600±$39k
about the VT average
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$840±$405
32% below VT
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
Worcester and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$4,480
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
43.4%±29.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Braintree and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
11.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
81%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
19%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
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 — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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.