Compare towns
Colrain vs Gill vs Ware
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).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Gill | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
1,740 |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Colrain and Gill 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% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Gill 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% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Ware 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 |
$90,208±$14kHighest 13% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Gill 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 |
$340,100±$17kHighest 39% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Gill 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 |
$4,318Highest 28% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Gill-Montague | — |
| High school 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.