Compare towns
Halifax vs Williston vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Williston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Strafford 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Strafford 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford 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 |
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.