Compare towns
Washington vs Halifax vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Chelsea has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Washington | Halifax | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
847Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kHighest 19% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$65,913±$13k 19% below VT |
| Washington and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Halifax and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Halifax School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.