Compare towns
Colrain vs Williston vs Heath 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 housing (typical home built 1963).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Williston | Heath | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
10,144Highest |
765Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Heath 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Heath 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Williston and Heath 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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.