Compare towns
Newfane vs Westminster vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
497Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Newfane 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±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Westminster and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Newfane and Rochester 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.