Compare towns
Halifax vs Newark vs Westminster vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Newark | Westminster | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
727Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Colrain 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 U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain 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 20% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.