Compare towns
Colrain vs Middlesex vs Oakham 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).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Middlesex | Oakham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,943Highest |
1,639 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Oakham 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin | Halifax School District |
| 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.