What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Colrain has the most expensive 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	Troy	Colrain
People
Population	1,749Highest	1,627Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Colrain and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Troy and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.	$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	Troy and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S.	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colrain and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Troy 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.