What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Wolcott	Colrain
People
Population	1,507Lowest	1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Colrain and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wolcott and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolcott and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S.	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,300±$23kLowest 33% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$118Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.
	Colrain and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,930Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wolcott and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolcott and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wolcott School District	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.