Compare towns
Colrain vs Erving vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Erving | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,703Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% 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%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kHighest 22% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Colrain and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% 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±$77 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Erving and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,351Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest 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 | Erving | 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 |
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.