Compare towns
Westminster vs Panton 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).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Panton | Halifax | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
690 |
847Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
| Brookline 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% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Lowest 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Panton 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 |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Panton 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Panton 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Panton 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% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% 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 |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Panton 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 | — | — | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.