Compare towns
Newfane vs Jay 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%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k 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 | Newfane | Jay | Westminster | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
471Lowest |
2,999Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Jay and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Newfane 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 |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.