Compare towns
Castleton vs Derby 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
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Castleton | Derby | Newfane | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,537Highest |
1,456Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.6±2.1 20% 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 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 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+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Derby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% 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 | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Newfane and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,449 32% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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 | None 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.