Compare towns
Halifax vs Jay vs Richford 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 the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Jay | Richford | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
471Lowest |
2,467Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Jay and Whitingham 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Richford 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Richford 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±$7k 21% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Jay and Whitingham 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% 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 |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.