Compare towns

Whitingham vs Oakham vs Halifax vs Pawlet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Pawlet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamOakhamHalifaxPawlet
People
Population
1,368
1,639Highest
847Lowest
1,480
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±7.1
19% above U.S.
49±2.3Highest
26% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
47.9±7.5
23% above U.S.
Oakham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawlet and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11k
13% below U.S.
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$63,889±$7k
21% below U.S.
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30kLowest
21% below U.S.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$267,500±$21k
20% below U.S.
$266,200±$44k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
52% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
$875±$154
38% below U.S.
$1,153±$215
18% below U.S.
Oakham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055Highest
62% above U.S.
$4,103
32% above U.S.
$4,991
60% above U.S.
$3,924Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
10%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 min
44% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
33 minLowest
23% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
9.7%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Quabbin Halifax School District Mettawee School District #84
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8
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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.