Compare towns
Westminster vs Jay vs Halifax vs Brookline
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).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Brookline has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Jay | Halifax | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497 |
471Lowest |
847Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Jay and Brookline 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 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%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 |
— | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 11% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Brookline 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Jay 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.