Compare towns
Newfane vs Westminster vs Putney vs Fairlee
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%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Westminster | Putney | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
497Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Westminster and Putney 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Westminster and Putney 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 |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.