What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Colrain has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).

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	Putnam	Colrain
People
Population	540Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Putnam and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%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	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.	$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	Putnam and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
	Colrain and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,102±$77 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2% U.S.: 12.5%	7.2% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.