Compare towns
Brookline vs Sandgate 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
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookline | Sandgate | Newfane | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
435Lowest |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Sandgate and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 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+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Newfane 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 | — | — | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.