Compare towns
Colrain vs Athol vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Colrain | Athol | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 28% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.