What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Albany	Colrain
People
Population	934Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±6.2Lowest 9% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Colrain and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Albany and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below U.S.	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$12kLowest 30% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,114±$23Highest 21% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Albany and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,093Lowest 31% above U.S.	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±65.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Albany and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.