Compare towns

Westminster vs Springfield vs Newfane vs Walpole

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 homeowners (88.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.

MeasureWestminsterSpringfieldNewfaneWalpole
People
Population
2,999
9,084Highest
1,456Lowest
3,690
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±3.7
38% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
46.5±10.4
20% 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%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole and Springfield 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%
23.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
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%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster and Walpole 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.
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
$66,719±$21k
17% below U.S.
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
Walpole 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.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$284,200±$49k
15% below U.S.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
Walpole and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$916±$126Lowest
35% below U.S.
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,165±$150
18% below U.S.
Newfane and Walpole 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.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$5,174
66% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfane and Walpole 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%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
27%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
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 #64 of 70 in VT — #27 of 120 in NH
School district Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District West River Valley Union Education District #72A Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town Bellows Falls Union High School Springfield High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.6Lowest
14.3Highest
— —
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.