Compare towns
Colrain vs Halifax vs Ripton vs Stratton
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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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 | Halifax | Ripton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
847 |
508Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton 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% |
25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Ripton 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Ripton 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Halifax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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 | 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.