Compare towns
Benson vs Colrain vs Halifax vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 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 | Benson | Colrain | Halifax | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,627Highest |
847 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,713 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Halifax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.