Compare towns

Colrain vs Halifax vs Charlemont

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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).

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.

MeasureColrainHalifaxCharlemont
People
Population
1,627Highest
847Lowest
1,118
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
59.6±6.7Highest
53% above U.S.
Charlemont 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%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
41.1%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Charlemont and Colrain 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%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$63,889±$7k
21% below U.S.
$53,063±$12kLowest
34% 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±$14k
15% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$305,500±$52kHighest
8% below U.S.
Charlemont and Colrain 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.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
$1,023±$126
28% below U.S.
Colrain and Charlemont 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.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,351
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.1%±18.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Charlemont 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%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
33 minLowest
23% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Charlemont 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 Hawlemont
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.