Compare towns
Westminster vs Chester 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,992 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% 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 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Westminster and Newfane 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest 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 | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.