Compare towns
Halifax vs Jay vs Richford 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 kids (25.4% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Jay | Richford | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
471Lowest |
2,467Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Richford 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Richford 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richford 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% 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. |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Richford 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,300Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Richford 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.