Compare towns

Colrain vs Putney vs Oakham

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).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).

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.

MeasureColrainPutneyOakham
People
Population
1,627Lowest
2,622Highest
1,639
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
49±2.3
26% 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%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Oakham and Putney 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Oakham and Colrain 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.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317
38% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,103Lowest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Mohawk Trail Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Quabbin
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.