Compare towns

Colrain vs Proctor 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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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.

MeasureColrainProctorOakham
People
Population
1,627Lowest
1,794Highest
1,639
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
42.4±6.4Lowest
9% 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%
21.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Proctor 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%
22.4%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Oakham and Proctor 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
$74,167±$12kLowest
8% below U.S.
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above 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.
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% 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
$4,317Highest
38% above U.S.
$4,032Lowest
29% above U.S.
$4,103
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colrain and Proctor 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%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Oakham and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Quabbin
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
—
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.