Compare towns
Whitingham vs Orange 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 highest household income ($71k).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Whitingham | Orange | Halifax | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,368 |
7,573Highest |
847Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% 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. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest 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% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$62,273±$14k 23% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Halifax 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. |
$4,136 33% 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% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs 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 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 24% 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% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Halifax School District | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
9.0Highest |
— | — |
| 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.