Compare towns
Bennington vs Newfane vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Bennington | Newfane | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,456Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 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+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% 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 | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% 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 | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Newfane and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.