Compare towns
Halifax vs Brookline vs Worcester
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%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($81k).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Brookline | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Highest |
531Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Brookline 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% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.