Compare towns
Westminster vs Windsor vs Sheldon vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Sheldon | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
3,554Highest |
2,267 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Sheldon and Westminster 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Newfane 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.