Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Colrain vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Bakersfield | Colrain | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
1,627Highest |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mohawk Trail | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.