Compare towns
Halifax vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
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 | Derby | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
4,537Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Derby 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% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Derby 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% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Derby 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. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% 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. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Derby 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. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | 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 |
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.