What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).

Colrain has the most affordable 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	Oakham	Colrain
People
Population	1,639Highest	1,627Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA	49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA
	Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average	$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA	$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA	$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA	$4,317Highest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.