Compare towns
Westminster vs Plainfield 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Plainfield | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,522 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Plainfield School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | 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 |
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.