Compare towns
Colrain vs Oakham vs Sandgate 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 most renters (13.5% rent).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Oakham | Sandgate | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,639Highest |
435Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sandgate 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Oakham 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Sandgate 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% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% 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%±2.4 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. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 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. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
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% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Halifax 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.