What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colrain	Salisbury
People
Population	1,627Highest	1,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S.	50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury 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%	30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average	$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above U.S.
	Salisbury 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.	$306,900±$51kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average
	Salisbury and Colrain 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.	$4,842Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colrain and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.