Compare towns
Halifax vs Plainfield vs Leyden 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Leyden | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
1,314 |
637Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Leyden 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Leyden 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Plainfield 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. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±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 | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.