What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most people working from home (15.8%).

Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Colrain
People
Population	666Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S.	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S.	$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Grafton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton School District	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.