Compare towns
Halifax vs Rochester 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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Rochester | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,389 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Colrain 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% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Rochester 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. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Rochester 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. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.