Compare towns
Halifax vs Colrain vs Albany
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%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Albany has the most kids (31% under 18).
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 | Colrain | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,627Highest |
934 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.4±6.2 9% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Albany and Halifax 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Albany 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. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$231,500±$12kLowest 30% 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. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,114±$23Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Albany 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. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,093Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±65.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Colrain 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | Mohawk Trail | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.