Compare towns
Westminster vs Ware 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Ware | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999 |
10,048Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Ware 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. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Ware 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Ware 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Newfane 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Ware | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.