Compare towns
Westminster vs Windham vs Rochester 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 highest household income ($95k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Rochester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
594Lowest |
1,389 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%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 |
53.3±7.6 24% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Newfane 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below 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% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 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 |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.