Compare towns
Colrain vs Oakham vs Panton 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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Panton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Oakham | Panton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,639Highest |
690Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
42.7±3.8 10% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Panton 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%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% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$86,667±$10k 7% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Panton 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. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$438,000±$40kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Panton 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. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,410±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,695Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Panton and Halifax 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | — | 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.