Compare towns
Colrain vs Ripton vs Westminster 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Ripton | Westminster | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
508Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Westminster 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%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Colrain 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%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Charlemont 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. |
— | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126 28% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Charlemont 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.