Compare towns
Sutton vs Benson vs Colrain vs Vershire
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%).
Vershire has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Sutton | Benson | Colrain | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
784Lowest |
1,627Highest |
842 |
| 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% |
-7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Lowest 17% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Vershire and Sutton 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% |
22.2%±5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest 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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 |
$71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
| 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±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,117±$80Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Vershire and Benson 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. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,640Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest 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% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer 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. |
32 min 23% 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% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 | 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.