Compare towns
Halifax vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Whitingham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
9,960Highest |
1,368 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest 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% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Colrain 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% 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. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,055 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% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%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% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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. |
38 min 43% 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% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
7.8Highest |
— |
| 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.