Compare towns
Halifax vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Plainfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Plainfield School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

