Compare towns

Heath vs Halifax 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

Heath has the highest household income ($99k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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.

MeasureHeathHalifaxColrain
People
Population
765Lowest
847
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±11.9Highest
38% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.6%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,750±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$295,000±$45kHighest
11% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
Heath 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.
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,438
42% above U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
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
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
33 minLowest
23% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
Work from home
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Halifax 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 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.