Compare towns
Westminster vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Westminster | Castleton | Braintree | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Braintree and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 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.