Compare towns
Westminster vs Unity vs Walpole 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).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Unity | Walpole | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
1,375Lowest |
3,690Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
| Unity and Newfane 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% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.