Compare towns
Halifax vs Middlebury vs Whitingham vs Newark
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 people working from home (29.9%).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Whitingham | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
9,175Highest |
1,368 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Whitingham and Newark 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Middlebury and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
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.