Compare towns

Colrain vs Dover

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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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.

MeasureColrainDover
People
Population
1,627Lowest
2,308Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
24% above MA
47.5±4Lowest
19% above MA
Colrain and Dover 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%
20.9%±4.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dover 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
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10kLowest
22% below MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kLowest
49% below MA
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
37% below MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317Lowest
28% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
3.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
15% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA
School district Mohawk Trail —
High school in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.