Compare towns
Halifax vs Townshend vs Westminster
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Townshend | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847 |
1,538Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Townshend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Halifax 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Townshend 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 VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Townshend and Halifax 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.