Compare towns

Otis vs Ripton vs Colrain

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.

MeasureOtisRiptonColrain
People
Population
1,624
508Lowest
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51±3.2Highest
31% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1
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+
39.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,898±$6k
35% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,700±$40kHighest
19% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
Otis and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,318±$924Highest
7% below U.S.
—
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,408Lowest
23% below U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,317
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Otis and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Otis and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Farmington River Reg Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mohawk Trail
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.