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 (27.7% 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.
| Measure | Gill | Ware | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740 |
10,048Highest |
1,627Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill and Ware 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 | Ware | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.