Compare towns
Halifax vs Sutton vs Colrain vs Craftsbury
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%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Craftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).
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 | Sutton | Colrain | Craftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,627 |
1,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.5±4.6 7% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Craftsbury 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Craftsbury 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
12.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$83,672±$16k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$270,500±$44k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,091±$184 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,164Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.9%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Sutton | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.