Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Reading | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
699 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Reading and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.