Compare towns
Westminster vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Westminster | Brookfield | Castleton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 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+ | 19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 11% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Brookfield 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Halifax 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 | 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.