Compare towns

Worcester vs Colrain vs Windham vs Montgomery

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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.

MeasureWorcesterColrainWindhamMontgomery
People
Population
831
1,627Highest
594Lowest
1,047
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.5±11.3Highest
32% above U.S.
Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below U.S.
Windham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
Windham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
—
$868±$209Lowest
39% below U.S.
Colrain and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,326
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Mohawk Trail — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.