Compare towns
Newfane vs Westminster vs Worcester 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 (18.2% under 18).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Worcester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,999Highest |
831Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$21k 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Worcester 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±$49k 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Newfane and Worcester 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.