Compare towns
Newark vs Westminster vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Newark | Westminster | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
2,999Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Newark and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% 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 | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.