Compare towns
Colrain vs Oakham vs Sutton 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).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Oakham | Sutton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,639Highest |
790Lowest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Sutton 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Colrain 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlemont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None 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.