Compare towns
Halifax vs Reading vs Mendon 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 kids (25.4% under 18).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Reading | Mendon | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
699Lowest |
1,113 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Mendon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%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% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Reading and Mendon 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Colrain 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 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. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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 | 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.