Compare towns

Calais 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

Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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.

MeasureCalaisColrainHalifax
People
Population
1,713Highest
1,627
847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
Colrain and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Lowest
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+
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
Calais and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
Calais and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,991
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 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
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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.