Compare towns
Colrain vs Marshfield 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 population (median age 49.6).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Marshfield | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
470Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8 9% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Marshfield 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% |
19.4%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marshfield 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 |
$84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$1,125±$79Highest 20% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Colrain 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. |
$3,269Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Marshfield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Marshfield 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 |
| High school 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.