Compare towns

Colrain vs Elmore vs Oakham

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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.

MeasureColrainElmoreOakham
People
Population
1,627
964Lowest
1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
45±3.5Lowest
16% above U.S.
49±2.3
26% above U.S.
Colrain and Oakham 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%
23.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Elmore and Oakham 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%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Oakham 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±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$98,750±$24k
22% above U.S.
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Oakham and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$315,800±$47k
5% below U.S.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,225±$263Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
Elmore and Oakham 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.
$5,066Highest
62% above U.S.
$4,103Lowest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±65.8
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colrain and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Oakham and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Quabbin
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.