Compare towns
Russell vs Orange vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Russell | Orange | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Colrain and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Russell and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32kHighest 46% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
| Russell and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330 43% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA |
| Colrain and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104Highest 15% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Russell and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.