Compare towns
Roxbury vs Colrain vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.
| Measure | Roxbury | Colrain | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 942Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7 8% below U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,214±$22k 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55k 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495 33% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,284 37% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 27.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Colrain and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Lowell School District |
| High school 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.