Compare towns
Halifax vs Barre vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Halifax | Barre | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Barre and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
| Whitingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.