Compare towns

Brookline 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

Brookline has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.

MeasureBrooklineColrainHalifax
People
Population
531Lowest
1,627Highest
847
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
Colrain and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
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+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
Brookline and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kHighest
13% below U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
Brookline and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,991
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mohawk Trail Halifax School District
High school 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.