Compare towns
Colrain vs Halifax vs Jay vs Ripton
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 housing (typical home built 1963).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Halifax | Jay | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
847 |
471Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Ripton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.