Halifax hosts rural homes with spacious lots
The forested town of Halifax sits on the southern border of Vermont, so residents can live in farmhouses on leafy land lots, while being less than an hour from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or New York's Hudson Valley to the south, east or west respectively. "It's a close-knit community, with multi-generational families and multi-generational homes. A lot of people like to have the land and often ride snowmobiles and go snowshoeing," says Janet Boyd, a Broker with Boyd Real Estate with 17 years of experience serving Southern Vermont. "People usually get neighbors' permission to go on their property; fishing is also big down there." Folks seeking restaurants and retail can drive to larger nearby towns in Windham County, like the commercially rich Brattleboro to the northeast.
Many locals spend free time on private land
Most outdoor activities happen on private property, as public green spaces are hard to come by in town. "There aren't any organized parks really," says Boyd. "Hunters in Halifax work out agreements with their neighbors when they're hunting on their property." It's common to see locals joyriding ATVs or snowmobiles on their land during the snowy Vermont winters, while hunters can track and bag wild turkeys and white-tailed deer. Anglers can drive to Sadawga Lake in Whitingham to catch bass, while Harriman Reservoir is in Wilmington for fishing and kayaking. Halifax's natural beauty makes it a destination for businesses like Basecamp at Beaver Falls, a 40-acre preserve for small groups and corporate retreats.
Homes with several acres run below county median
The median sale price for a single-family home in Halifax is $235,000, which is 32% lower than the median sale price for Windham County. Styles include cottages, cabins and farmhouses, usually on tree-lined multi-acre lots. The expansive land market is tied to Halifax's history as a farming village, though Boyd says that it's not as prevalent as it once was. 'There are families with homesteads who work hard to grow veggies and raise a few animals; they produce for themselves, though." New builds are harder to come by, as Boyd says buyers searching in Halifax usually remodel older homes and use the land that comes with them.
Locals head to Brattleboro for dining and the farmers market
Ten miles east of Halifax is Brattleboro, with a Main Street corridor packed with restaurants, pubs and cafes. Folks can drive to Tulip Bar & Restaurant for a brunch with eggs benedict and Turkish coffee. The Brattleboro Area Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning from May through October. Locals can browse fresh produce and hot, prepared foods from vendors around Windham and Cheshire Counties, purchase arts and crafts and listen to live music.
Halifax West School offers county-high middle school learning
Halifax is served by the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union, which oversees five school districts across Windham and Bennington Counties. The only school in town is the K-8 Halifax West School, which Niche rates as a B-plus and ranks as the best public middle school in Windham County. Students can advance to nearby Twin Valley Middle High School, which gets a C-rating from Niche.
Locals work and shop between towns in Windham County
"Halifax is a gateway community for the bigger areas nearby, like Brattleboro, Greenfield and Whitingham," says Boyd. "People work within the county and usually commute to other towns. Someone from Dover might work in Wilmington, and a Wilmington local might teach at Halifax Elementary. Our towns are small and connected." Locals can reach other towns around Windham County along Vermont Route 9, also called the Mary Stark Trail. Halifax gets heavy snowfall in the winter, especially considering Vermont is America's snowiest state, and locals should plan commutes and day-to-day activities accordingly.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
