What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Colrain	Oakham
People
Population	1,627Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA
	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 MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Colrain 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 22% below MA	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
	Oakham 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±$14kLowest 49% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,317Highest 28% below MA	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.