What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colrain	Lowell
People
Population	1,627Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Lowell 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.