Compare towns
Sutton vs Benson 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
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Colrain has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
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 | Sutton | Benson | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
784Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.