Compare towns
Westminster vs Sutton vs Newfane vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Sutton | Newfane | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
9,452Highest |
1,456 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 30% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Sutton | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| 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.