Compare towns
Westminster vs Reading vs Dummerston vs Halifax
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 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 | Reading | Dummerston | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
699 |
2,090Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Dummerston 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.