Compare towns
Halifax vs Barton vs Marlboro vs Colrain
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 the most people working from home (29.9%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
730Lowest |
1,362 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% 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 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% 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% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$77,135±$10k 4% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Marlboro 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. |
$357,300±$55kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Marlboro and Colrain 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 |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Halifax 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | — | Marlboro School District | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.