Compare towns
Halifax vs Stratton vs Whitingham 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 people working from home (29.9%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Stratton | Whitingham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
532Lowest |
1,368 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Halifax 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Whitingham 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. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Stratton 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. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.