Compare towns
Halifax vs Barton vs Colrain vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Halifax | Barton | Colrain | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
730Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% 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 | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Mohawk Trail | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| 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.