Compare towns

Halifax vs Whately 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).
Whately has the most expensive homes ($432k 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.

MeasureHalifaxWhatelyColrain
People
Population
847Lowest
1,499
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
49.3±6.7
27% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Colrain and Whately 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%
16.4%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Whately 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%
24.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Whately 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%
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Colrain and Whately 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.
$116,563±$15kHighest
44% above U.S.
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$431,500±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
$977±$125
31% below U.S.
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
Colrain and Whately 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.
$5,027Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.7%±29Lowest
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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Halifax School District Whately Mohawk Trail
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.