Compare towns
Castleton vs Newfane vs Walpole vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Newfane | Walpole | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,456Lowest |
3,690 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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 32% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.