What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	Colrain
People
Population	1,577Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Colrain and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colrain and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.	$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.	$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon 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.