Compare towns
Westminster vs Sheldon vs Newfane vs Westminster
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).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Newfane | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
2,267 |
1,456 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Newfane 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Sheldon and Newfane 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 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.