Compare towns
Westminster vs Worcester vs Newbury
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).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Worcester | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
831Lowest |
2,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.9±5.4Highest 25% above VT |
| Newbury 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Newbury 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Newbury 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 |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$62,316±$6kLowest 23% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,000±$24kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newbury 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,080±$123Highest 12% below VT |
| Newbury and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,826Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±11.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Newbury 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
21%±17.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| 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 | 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.