Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs Colrain vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Colrain | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
508 |
1,627 |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±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+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | Troy School District |
| 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.