Compare towns
Colrain vs Franklin vs Highgate 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).
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Franklin | Highgate | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate 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% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%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% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Colrain 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. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Colrain 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Franklin 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.