Compare towns
Westminster vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Townshend | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 497Lowest |
1,538Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Townshend 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 VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Westminster and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Westminster and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Townshend 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.