Compare towns
Colrain vs Ripton vs Whitingham 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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Ripton | Whitingham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Oakham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% 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% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above 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. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above 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±$77 22% below U.S. |
— | $673±$150Lowest 52% 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.