Compare towns
Colrain vs Putney vs Ripton vs Halifax
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Putney | Ripton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Putney 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.