Compare towns
Montgomery vs Colrain vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Montgomery | Colrain | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mohawk Trail | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.