Compare towns
Strafford vs Colrain vs Mendon vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Strafford | Colrain | Mendon | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,627Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$86,905±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Mohawk Trail | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 | 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.