Compare towns
Halifax vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Plainfield 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.