Compare towns

Colrain vs Washington vs Oakham

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 most renters (13.5% rent).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).

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.

MeasureColrainWashingtonOakham
People
Population
1,627
1,056Lowest
1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
52.9±5.1Highest
36% above U.S.
49±2.3Lowest
26% above U.S.
Washington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Oakham and Washington 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%
24.3%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
about the U.S. average
$66,103±$8kLowest
18% below U.S.
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Oakham 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±$14k
15% below U.S.
$217,700±$37kLowest
35% below U.S.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$996±$285Lowest
30% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
Oakham 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.
$3,485Lowest
12% above U.S.
$4,103
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.5%±63.6
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colrain and Washington 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Washington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Quabbin
High school in town None 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.