What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Colrain	Albany
People
Population	1,627Highest	934Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.	42.4±6.2Lowest 9% 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	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±4.1Highest 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	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average	$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Colrain and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.	$231,500±$12kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,114±$23Highest 21% 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	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.	$4,093Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44%±65.2Lowest 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	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±11.6Highest 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	Mohawk Trail	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
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.