Compare towns
Colrain vs Peru vs Ripton vs Charlemont
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Peru | Ripton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Ripton 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlemont 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Peru 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±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlemont 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hawlemont |
| 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.