Compare towns
Colrain vs Orange vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
7,573Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Colrain and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kHighest 22% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$305,500±$52kHighest 46% below MA |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,023±$126 42% below MA |
| Colrain and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,351Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.