Compare towns
Halifax vs Peacham 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%).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Peacham | Colrain | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
887 |
1,627Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% 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. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Peacham 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% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Whitingham 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham 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. |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Peacham 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. |
$302,000±$64kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Peacham 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. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Peacham 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. |
$5,605Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peacham and Whitingham 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% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older 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. |
31 minLowest 17% 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% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Peacham School District | 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.