Compare towns
Colrain vs Dover 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 highest household income ($81k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Dover | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,466 |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Dover 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% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12k 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Dover and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126 28% below U.S. |
| 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 38% above U.S. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.