Compare towns
Derby vs Newbury vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Derby | Newbury | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,169Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Lowest 20% above VT |
53.9±5.4Highest 25% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Newbury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Newbury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$62,316±$6kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Derby and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$285,000±$24kHighest 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Newbury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$1,080±$123 12% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Derby and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,826 24% below VT |
$4,063Highest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±11.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±17.4 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Newbury 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school 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 |
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.