Compare towns
Colrain vs Benson vs Clarksburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Clarksburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
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 | Colrain | Benson | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
784Lowest |
1,667Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.8±7.1 28% above U.S. |
| Benson and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Clarksburg and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,143±$11kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$239,900±$18kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$190Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Clarksburg and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$2,993Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.2%±56.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarksburg and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Clarksburg |
| High school in town | None 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.