Compare towns
Halifax vs Castleton vs Colrain vs Marlboro
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 kids (25.4% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
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 | Castleton | Colrain | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,627 |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,135±$10k 4% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Marlboro and Castleton 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Marlboro School District |
| 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.