Compare towns

Colrain vs Bakersfield vs Charlemont

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).

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.

MeasureColrainBakersfieldCharlemont
People
Population
1,627Highest
1,109Lowest
1,118
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
46.4±8Lowest
19% above U.S.
59.6±6.7Highest
53% above U.S.
Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Colrain and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
41.1%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bakersfield 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±$10k
about the U.S. average
$83,462±$18kHighest
3% above U.S.
$53,063±$12kLowest
34% below U.S.
Bakersfield 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
15% below U.S.
$271,300±$19kLowest
18% below U.S.
$305,500±$52kHighest
8% below U.S.
Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$1,200±$327Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,023±$126Lowest
28% below U.S.
Bakersfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317
38% above U.S.
$3,823Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,351Highest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
18.8%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.1%±18.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Charlemont and Colrain 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%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
94%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
33 minLowest
25% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Charlemont and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Hawlemont
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.