Compare towns
Westminster vs Dalton 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Dalton | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
6,256Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Dalton 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% |
44.3%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% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Newfane 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. |
$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Central Berkshire | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.