Compare towns
Westminster vs Fairfax 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
5,226Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Fairfax 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 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Lowest 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Fairfax School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.