Compare towns
Halifax vs Castleton vs Randolph 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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
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 | Castleton | Randolph | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,007 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Colrain 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% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Randolph 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Randolph 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. |
$235,400±$25k 29% 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. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Castleton 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% 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% |
54.3%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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.