Compare towns
Windham vs Brandon vs Westminster vs Townshend
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).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Windham | Brandon | Westminster | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
4,120Highest |
497Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Brandon 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Brandon 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 |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below 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 | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Brandon 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 |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Brandon 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% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.