Compare towns
Newfane vs Dover vs Westminster vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Newfane | Dover | Westminster | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,466Highest |
497Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Westminster and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.