Compare towns
Rochester vs Colrain vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Rochester | Colrain | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,627Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% 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 | $3,977 28% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Mohawk Trail | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.