Compare towns
Halifax vs Ware vs Warren 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%).
Ware has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Ware | Warren | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
6,369Highest |
5,009 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Warren 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Halifax 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Quaboag Regional | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.