Compare towns
Westminster vs Newport vs Brighton
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 people working from home (27%).
Newport has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Newport | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
4,394Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Westminster and Newport 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% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton 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±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
$54,646±$12k 33% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$179,400±$11k 43% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Highest 26% below VT |
$850±$49 31% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Westminster and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Highest 19% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Newport 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 | #63 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | North Country Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.