What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).

Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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	Brighton
People
Population	1,627Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Colrain and Brighton 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%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colrain and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton 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	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton 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%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.