Compare towns
Colrain vs Reading 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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Reading | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
699Lowest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Reading 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 15% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Reading and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hawlemont |
| 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 |
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.