Compare towns
Halifax vs Townsend vs Westminster 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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Westminster | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
9,100Highest |
497Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Westminster 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Halifax 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Westminster 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | North Middlesex | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.