Compare towns
Halifax vs Topsham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Topsham | Whitingham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
999 |
1,368 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% 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. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 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% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 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. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Topsham 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. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% 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±$154 38% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Topsham 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. |
$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Whitingham 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% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest 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. |
1981Highest 1 yr 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. |
35 min 32% 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% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Waits River Union High District #36 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None 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.