Compare towns
Halifax vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Exeter | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.