Compare towns
Athens vs Newfields vs Whiting vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Athens | Newfields | Whiting | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,023 |
532 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Newfields 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 | — | Newfields School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.