Compare towns

Colrain vs Reading vs Sutton

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 homeowners (86.5%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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.

MeasureColrainReadingSutton
People
Population
1,627Highest
699Lowest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
46.6±5.7Lowest
20% above U.S.
Reading and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Sutton 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%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Reading 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%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Reading and Colrain 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
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above U.S.
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below U.S.
Reading 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±$14k
15% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
$231,100±$41kLowest
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Colrain and Reading 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.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$3,975Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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

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.