Compare towns
Colrain vs Erving vs Oakham
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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Erving | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
1,703Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Erving 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10k 22% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Colrain 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 28% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Erving 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Oakham 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 | 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 |
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.