Compare towns
Halifax vs Waltham 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 people working from home (29.9%).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Highest |
452Lowest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Westminster 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Waltham and Westminster 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 |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Waltham and Westminster 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 |
$1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.