Compare towns
Colrain vs Brighton 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).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | Brighton | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,167Lowest |
1,667Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.8±7.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Clarksburg and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Clarksburg 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% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$77,143±$11k 4% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Clarksburg 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. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$239,900±$18k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,125±$190Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Clarksburg and Colrain 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. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$2,993Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.2%±56.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarksburg and Brighton 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Brighton School District | 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.