Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Colrain vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Colrain | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,627 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bridgewater and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin |
| High school 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.