Compare towns

Brookfield vs Colrain vs Elmore

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldColrainElmore
People
Population
1,486
1,627Highest
964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
45±3.5Lowest
16% above U.S.
Colrain and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23k
22% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$98,750±$24kHighest
22% above U.S.
Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$315,800±$47k
5% below U.S.
Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$1,225±$263Highest
13% below U.S.
Elmore and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$5,066Highest
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±65.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Colrain and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Mohawk Trail Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90
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

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.