Compare towns
Bennington vs Colrain vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Bennington | Colrain | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,627Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Oakham 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.