Compare towns
Halifax vs Becket 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 the most people working from home (29.9%).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Becket | Colrain | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,962Highest |
1,627 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 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+ | 22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Becket 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. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Becket and Colrain 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. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Becket 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. |
$3,047Lowest 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% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Whitingham 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
36 min 36% 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% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Central Berkshire | Mohawk Trail | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None 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.