Compare towns
Dummerston vs Westminster vs Newfane vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Dummerston | Westminster | Newfane | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
497Lowest |
1,456 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.