Compare towns
Whitingham vs Colrain vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Whitingham | Colrain | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368Lowest |
1,627 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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 | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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 | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

