What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Charlemont
People
Population	1,627Highest	1,118Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA	59.6±6.7Highest 49% 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	15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	41.1%±10.2Highest 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+	37.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	1%±0.7Lowest 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	$80,673±$10kHighest 22% below MA	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA	$305,500±$52kHighest 46% 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	$1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% 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	$4,317Lowest 28% below MA	$4,351Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.1%±18.8Highest 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	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±6.3Highest 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	Mohawk Trail	Hawlemont
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.