Compare towns
Halifax vs Ira vs Whitingham 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%).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Ira | Whitingham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
381Lowest |
1,368 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Colrain 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira 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±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Ira 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.