What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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	Sheldon
People
Population	1,627Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Colrain and Sheldon 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%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Sheldon 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	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Colrain and Sheldon 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.	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Sheldon 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%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.