Compare towns
Westminster vs Dedham vs Newbury
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 people working from home (27%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Dedham | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
25,237Highest |
2,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.9±5.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Newbury 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Newbury 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Newbury 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$62,316±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$285,000±$24k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,080±$123 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 30% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,826Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±17.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Newbury 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Dedham | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.