Compare towns
Halifax vs Sheldon vs Colrain vs Guilford
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%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($313k 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 | Sheldon | Colrain | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
2,267 |
1,627 |
2,461Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Guilford 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Guilford 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Guilford 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$312,600±$39kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Colrain 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,283±$273 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Guilford 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mohawk Trail | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.