Compare towns
Colrain vs Upton vs Oakham vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Upton | Oakham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
8,189Highest |
1,639 |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,023±$126 42% below MA |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.