Compare towns
Halifax vs Randolph 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%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k 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 | Randolph | Walden | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,037 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% 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. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above 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% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Randolph 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% |
40.8% 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% |
11.2%±2.5Highest 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. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$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. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Randolph 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. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% 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% |
54.1%±17.8 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%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. |
1971 9 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. |
21 minLowest 22% 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% |
12.9%±4.7 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.