Compare towns
Washington vs Halifax vs Williamstown
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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
847Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Halifax 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$8k 19% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Halifax and Williamstown 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 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 | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Washington 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Halifax School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.