Compare towns
Westmore vs Halifax vs Benson vs Baltimore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Westmore | Halifax | Benson | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465 |
847Highest |
784 |
361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11k 7% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
| Baltimore and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
| Westmore and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820 15% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,329 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Halifax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.