Compare towns
Halifax vs Walden vs Castleton 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%).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Walden | Castleton | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
1,037 |
4,453Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Halifax and Walden 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 |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Walden 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.