Compare towns
Westminster vs Ware vs Halifax vs Westminster
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 most expensive homes ($314k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Ware | Halifax | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
6,369Highest |
847 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Ware 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 U.S. average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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±$39kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Westminster 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. |
$1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Ware and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 44% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Halifax School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.