Compare towns
Colrain vs Guildhall vs Halifax vs Otis
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 most renters (13.5% rent).
Guildhall has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | Guildhall | Halifax | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
371Lowest |
847 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Otis 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% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Guildhall 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. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Colrain 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. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Otis 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% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Otis 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 | Farmington River Reg |
| 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 | 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.