Compare towns
Brookfield vs Halifax vs Westminster vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Brookfield | Halifax | Westminster | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
847 |
497Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
| Brookfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 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 | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Brookfield 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.