Compare towns
Halifax vs Bennington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Bennington | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Bennington 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% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Bennington 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% 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±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington 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% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.