Compare towns
Colrain vs Jay vs Windham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Jay | Windham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
471Lowest |
594 |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Jay 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 about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Windham 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 15% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
— | — | $1,023±$126Lowest 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 | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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 | 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.