Compare towns

Halifax vs Westminster vs Colrain

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).

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.

MeasureHalifaxWestminsterColrain
People
Population
847
497Lowest
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Colrain 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
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Colrain 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 U.S.
$81,000±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
Westminster and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$313,600±$39kHighest
6% below U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
Westminster and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$154
38% below U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
30 minLowest
13% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — Mohawk Trail
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.