Compare towns
Colrain vs Dedham 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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Colrain | Dedham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
25,237Highest |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dedham | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.