Compare towns
Colrain vs Halifax vs Strafford vs Oakham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Halifax | Strafford | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
847Lowest |
1,372 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% 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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Oakham 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Oakham 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Oakham 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Strafford 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. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Quabbin |
| 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.