Compare towns

Colrain vs Westminster vs Halifax

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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

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.

MeasureColrainWestminsterHalifax
People
Population
1,627Highest
497Lowest
847
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
Colrain and Westminster 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%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Halifax 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%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Halifax 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%
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$81,000±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
Westminster and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$313,600±$39kHighest
6% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
Westminster and Colrain 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.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$875±$154
38% below U.S.
Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
30 minLowest
13% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
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
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.