Compare towns
Colrain vs Newark vs Halifax 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 population (median age 49.6).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Newark | Halifax | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
727Lowest |
847 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Newark 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% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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 |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Halifax 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.