Compare towns
Colrain vs Petersham 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).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k 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 | Petersham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,185 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Petersham 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% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Colrain 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Petersham 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 |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Petersham 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. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Petersham | 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 |
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.