Compare towns
Brookline vs Whitingham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Whitingham | Newfane | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,368 |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% 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 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Newfane 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% |
32.8%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% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% 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 |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$916±$126 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Newfane 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.