Compare towns

Westminster vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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.

MeasureWestminsterMapletonAppletonNewfane
People
Population
2,999Highest
1,884
1,360Lowest
1,456
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±3.7
38% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.2±7.4
26% 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton 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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
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%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Westminster 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.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$66,719±$21k
17% below U.S.
Mapleton 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±$35k
18% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$284,200±$49kHighest
15% below U.S.
Newfane and Westminster 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.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
Newfane and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,063
30% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$5,174Highest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than 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.
28 min
5% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
27%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5
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 — — —
School district Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 Appleton Public Schools 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 History None yet 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.