Compare towns
Colrain vs Ripton vs Oakham vs Clarksburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Clarksburg has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.
| Measure | Colrain | Ripton | Oakham | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
508Lowest |
1,639 |
1,667Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
49.8±7.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Clarksburg and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Clarksburg 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±1.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$77,143±$11kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Oakham 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$239,900±$18kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$190 20% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Clarksburg 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$2,993Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.2%±56.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarksburg 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Oakham 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 | Quabbin | Clarksburg |
| High school in town | None 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.