Compare towns
Lowell vs Colrain vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Lowell | Colrain | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
1,627Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%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% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 33% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,326Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Colrain 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.