Compare towns
Westminster vs Hartland vs Derby 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).
Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Hartland | Derby | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
3,460 |
4,537Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
51.6±2.1Lowest 20% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Hartland and Newfane 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% |
16.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hartland 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% |
28.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Hartland 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% |
36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Hartland 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 |
$86,136±$23kHighest 6% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Hartland and Derby 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 |
$348,600±$39kHighest 10% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Hartland and Newfane 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 |
— | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$6,437Highest 28% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 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% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Hartland School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.