Compare towns
Westminster vs Chichester vs Newfane
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Chichester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,745 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
43±3.3Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% 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% |
20.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chichester 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$109,297±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$409,300±$26kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chichester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Chichester School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school 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 Our Story | 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.