Compare towns
Halifax vs Westminster vs Williston vs Marlboro
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 kids (28.4% under 18).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williston | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
497Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Williston 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,600±$824 30% above VT |
| Williston and Marlboro 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.