Compare towns
Colrain vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,943Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.