Compare towns
Sharon vs Colrain vs Cavendish vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Sharon | Colrain | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,627Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Whitingham 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% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Sharon 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Colrain 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Sharon 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.