Compare towns
Halifax vs Waltham 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 kids (25.4% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Waltham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847 |
452Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waltham 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. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Waltham 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±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Waltham 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. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Colrain 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.