Compare towns
Westminster vs Appleton vs Newfane vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Westminster | Appleton | Newfane | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
1,360Lowest |
1,456 |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockingham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockingham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16k 12% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,887 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Appleton Public Schools | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.