Compare towns
Westminster vs White River Junction vs Wilder vs Newfane
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 most kids (18.2% under 18).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Wilder | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
3,364Highest |
3,087 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Westminster 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.