Compare towns
Colrain vs Halifax vs Middlesex
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
847Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Middlesex 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Colrain 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. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.