Compare towns
Braintree vs Halifax vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($314k median).
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 | Braintree | Halifax | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
847 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$875±$154Highest 29% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Halifax and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.