Compare towns

Newfane vs Westminster vs Ripton vs Dover

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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureNewfaneWestminsterRiptonDover
People
Population
1,456
497Lowest
508
1,466Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+25.7%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% 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%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Dover 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%
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,719±$21k
18% below VT
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
Ripton 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±$49kLowest
10% below VT
$313,600±$39k
about the VT average
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
Ripton and Dover 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
—
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
Newfane and Westminster 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
$4,480Lowest
11% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,510
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
Ripton 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%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
13% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
22 minLowest
6% below VT
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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 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.