Compare towns
Westminster vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Middlesex | Halifax | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
1,943Highest |
847 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$22k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Windham 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.