Compare towns
Halifax vs Walden vs Castleton vs Whitingham
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,037 |
4,453Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% 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 |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Walden and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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 |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Castleton and Walden 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% 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 |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% 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% |
9.7%±5.2 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.