Compare towns
Westminster vs Windham vs Reading 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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 | Windham | Reading | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Reading 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Reading 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Reading 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | None in town | 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.