What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).

Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).

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	Peacham	Colrain
People
Population	887Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S.	$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,000±$64kHighest 9% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.
	Colrain and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,605Highest 80% above U.S.	$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Peacham 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.