Compare towns

Gill vs Ware vs Colrain

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).

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.

MeasureGillWareColrain
People
Population
1,740
6,369Highest
1,627Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6
9% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
49.6±8.7Highest
24% above MA
Colrain and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±8.7
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.4%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
37.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Gill and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,208±$14kHighest
13% below MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$80,673±$10k
22% below MA
Gill and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$340,100±$17kHighest
39% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$284,300±$14k
49% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$246Highest
32% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
$1,102±$77
37% below MA
Gill and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,318Highest
28% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$4,317
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±10.4
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
46%±22.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
7.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.3%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
29% below MA
27 min
9% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
Work from home
14.9%±8
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Gill 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 — #267 of 282 in MA —
School district Gill-Montague — Mohawk Trail
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.