Compare towns

Colrain vs Bennington 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

Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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.

MeasureColrainBenningtonHalifax
People
Population
1,627
15,249Highest
847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
Colrain and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$63,889±$7k
21% below U.S.
Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kHighest
15% below U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
$267,500±$21k
20% below U.S.
Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$1,133±$63Highest
20% below U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
Bennington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,513
45% above U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #58 of 70 in VT —
School district Mohawk Trail Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Halifax School District
High school in town None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
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.