Compare towns
Williamstown vs Halifax vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Williamstown | Halifax | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
847Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.