Compare towns
Westminster vs Middlesex vs Calais 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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.