Compare towns
Colrain vs Sheffield 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 highest household income ($81k).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Sheffield | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
190Lowest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
34.7%±13.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±14Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Sheffield 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 about the U.S. average |
$65,795±$12k 19% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Sheffield 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. |
$122,700±$70kLowest 63% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$563Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$1,714Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlemont and Colrain 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlemont and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Hawlemont |
| High school 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.