Compare towns
Westminster vs Whiting vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Whiting | Strafford | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
532Lowest |
1,372 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Strafford and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford 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 | 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.