Compare towns
Newfane vs Westminster vs Dummerston vs Mendon
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Dummerston | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,999Highest |
2,090 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Mendon 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% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Mendon 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.