Compare towns
Colrain vs Jay vs Ripton 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
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Heath and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Heath 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Heath 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. |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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.