Compare towns
Newfane vs Reading vs Westminster
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%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
699Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Reading 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Reading and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Newfane and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.