Compare towns

Westminster vs Castleton vs Halifax vs Windham

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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureWestminsterCastletonHalifaxWindham
People
Population
497Lowest
4,453Highest
847
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
43.3±11.5
about the VT average
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
40.6±13.1
6% below VT
44.2±7.4Highest
about the VT average
Windham 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%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
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%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
22.6%±7.2
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windham 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%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.9%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±0.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham 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
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$267,500±$21k
16% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham 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
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
$875±$154
29% below VT
—
Castleton and Halifax 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
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,991
about the VT average
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
57.1%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
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%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1968
8 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
26% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
33 minHighest
38% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.9%±11.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
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 #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Halifax School District —
High school 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.