Compare towns
Colrain vs Oakham vs Williston vs Russell
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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Oakham | Williston | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,639 |
10,144Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Russell and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32k 9% below U.S. |
| Williston and Oakham 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. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,104 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Colrain 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.