Compare towns
Westminster vs Williston vs Newfane vs Walpole
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Williston | Newfane | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
10,144Highest |
1,456Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 11% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs 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 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.