What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Colrain has the most expensive 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.

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

Measure	Bath	Colrain
People
Population	1,097Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Colrain and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colrain and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S.	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Bath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Highest 41% above U.S.	$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath School District	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.