Compare towns
Colrain vs Ripton vs Whitingham 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Ripton | Whitingham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 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. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.