What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the most people working from home (8.4%).

Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).

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	Rowe
People
Population	1,627Highest	453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA	48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA
	Colrain and Rowe 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%	23%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowe 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%	30.2%±8.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Colrain and Rowe 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%	26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rowe 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±$10kHighest 22% below MA	$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA
	Colrain and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,300±$14kHighest 49% below MA	$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA
	Colrain and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA	$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA
	Rowe 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	$1,458Lowest 76% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8%	11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Colrain and Rowe 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%	15.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	36 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Colrain and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Rowe
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.