Compare towns
Halifax vs Brighton vs Colrain vs Newark
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%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Newark has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Brighton | Colrain | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
1,167 |
1,627Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Newark 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% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton 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±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Newark 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. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23k 31% 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. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,771 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Brighton 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% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Brighton School District | Mohawk Trail | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None 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.