Compare towns
Colrain vs Mendon vs Oakham
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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,113Lowest |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Oakham 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

