Compare towns
Newfane vs Westminster vs Williston
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
2,999 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.