Compare towns

Colrain vs Halifax vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureColrainHalifaxWestminster
People
Population
1,627
847Lowest
2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
Westminster and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
$71,491±$4k
11% below U.S.
Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kHighest
15% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$273,800±$35k
18% below U.S.
Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317
38% above U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Mohawk Trail Halifax School District Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.