What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).

Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).

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	Charlemont	Colrain
People
Population	1,118Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA	49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA
	Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%	30.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.8%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Colrain and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA	$80,673±$10kHighest 22% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,500±$52kHighest 46% below MA	$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA
	Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA	$1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA
	Colrain and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 27% below MA	$4,317Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest MA: 10%	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hawlemont	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.