What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Sharon
People
Population	1,627Highest	1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Colrain and Sharon 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%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colrain and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Sharon 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	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Sharon 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.	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S.	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Sharon 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%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Sharon School District
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.