Compare towns
Westminster vs Lancaster vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the highest household income ($81k).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 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 | Lancaster | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 497Lowest |
3,216Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S. average |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional 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 |
U.S. 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.