Compare towns
Newfane vs Plainfield vs Westminster vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Plainfield | Westminster | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
2,522 |
2,999Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% 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 | 11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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 17% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 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 | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Plainfield 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 Our Story | 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.