Compare towns
Worcester vs Westminster vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Worcester | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
497Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Westminster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Westminster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.