Compare towns
Barton vs Newfane vs Westminster vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
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 | Barton | Newfane | Westminster | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Westminster and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.