Compare towns

Colrain vs Webster 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 highest household income ($81k).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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.

MeasureColrainWebsterHalifax
People
Population
1,627
12,228Highest
847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
37.2±2.1Lowest
4% below U.S.
40.6±13.1
4% above U.S.
Colrain and Halifax 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%
21.8%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Webster 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%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
18.8%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%
6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below U.S.
$63,889±$7k
21% below U.S.
Colrain and Halifax 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.
$333,100±$14kHighest
about the U.S. average
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$1,198±$85Highest
15% below U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
Webster 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.
$3,234Lowest
4% above U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Webster 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #271 of 282 in MA —
School district Mohawk Trail — Halifax School District
High school 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.