Compare towns
Westminster vs Stratton vs Walpole 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Walpole 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 | Stratton | Walpole | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
532 |
3,690Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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% |
28%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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 U.S. average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Walpole 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. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Fall Mountain 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 | 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.