Compare towns
Colrain vs Sheldon vs Whitingham 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).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Sheldon | Whitingham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,267Highest |
1,368 |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlemont and Whitingham 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Whitingham 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±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126 28% 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 | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlemont and Sheldon 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.