Compare towns
Halifax vs Westminster vs Williamstown
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%).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($314k median).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 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 | Westminster | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847 |
497Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
43.3±11.5Highest about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Westminster and Williamstown 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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±$21k 16% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Westminster and Halifax 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.