Compare towns
Halifax vs Orange vs Colrain vs Whitingham
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 ($222k median).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Colrain | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
957 |
1,627Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Colrain 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Orange 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. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Orange 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. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% 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±$154 38% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Orange and Colrain 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. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Mohawk Trail | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.