What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Troy
People
Population	1,627Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Colrain and Troy 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%	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Troy 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%	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Troy 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	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Troy 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±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.	$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Troy 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%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colrain and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Troy 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.