Compare towns

Colrain vs Bennington vs Heath

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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

MeasureColrainBenningtonHeath
People
Population
1,627
15,249Highest
765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
44.7±2.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
53.8±11.9Highest
38% 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
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.6%±8.2Highest
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+
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$98,750±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
$295,000±$45kHighest
11% 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
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,133±$63Highest
20% below U.S.
—
Bennington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,513Highest
45% above U.S.
$4,438
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
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
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Bennington 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 Mohawk Trail Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 —
High school in town None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School —
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.