Compare towns
Halifax vs Middlesex vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Middlesex | Putney | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Newark and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.