Compare towns
Halifax vs Orange vs Ware 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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Orange | Ware | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Ware 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Ware 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. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Ware and Colrain 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. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Ware 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. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.