Compare towns
Colrain vs Ripton vs Williston 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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Williston | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont 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%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest 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% |
5.7%±2.7 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest 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% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than 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. |
20 minLowest 25% 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% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hawlemont |
| 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.