What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k 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.

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

Measure	Lowell	Colrain
People
Population	1,070Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell 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.