Compare towns
Halifax vs Putney vs Walden 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Putney | Walden | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,037 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Walden 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Walden 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Walden 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Walden 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Walden 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.