Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Ripton vs Halifax
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).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Heath | Ripton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
765 |
508Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Ripton 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% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Heath 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. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Heath 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. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District |
| 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.