Compare towns
Colrain vs Wells 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Wells | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,148Lowest |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Wells and Oakham 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. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Colrain 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
39 min 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.