Compare towns
Halifax vs Orange vs Warwick 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 renters (30% rent).
Warwick has the most expensive homes ($349k median).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Warwick | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
7,573Highest |
776Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% 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. |
51.4±7.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Warwick 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 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% |
23.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Warwick 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% |
40.5% 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% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Warwick 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. |
$93,333±$22kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Warwick and Colrain 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. |
$349,400±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,367±$163Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Colrain 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Warwick 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Warwick | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.