Compare towns
Westmore vs Colrain vs Sutton vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Westmore | Colrain | Sutton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465Lowest |
1,627Highest |
790 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westmore and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest 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 | $87,188±$11kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Westmore and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Westmore and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 21% 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 | $5,357Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest 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 | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.