Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Williston 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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Ripton | Williston | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,708±$97 38% above VT |
| Williston and Newark 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.