Compare towns
Halifax vs Orange vs Westminster 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%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Orange | Westminster | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
7,573Highest |
497Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% 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. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Halifax 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest 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% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Westminster 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. |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Westminster 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. |
$313,600±$39kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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±$233 45% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$4,480 44% 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% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% |
2.2%Lowest 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% |
80.1% 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. |
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. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% 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% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | 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.