Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfane vs Westminster vs Thurman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Exeter | Newfane | Westminster | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8 35% 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 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.