Town · Massachusetts

Colrain, Massachusetts

Colrain, town, in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Colrain had 1,654 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,606 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,627 (±200). GEOID 2501114885.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,654

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,606 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,627 ±200

Median household income

$80,673

±$9,695 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960

Median home value

$284,300

±$13,739 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100

Median gross rent

$1,102

±$77 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762

Where is Colrain and what county is it in?

Colrain is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts. It covers 43.1 square miles of land, 37 residents per square mile in 2020.

Colrain is in the Greenfield, MA micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Colrain (marked with a dot) in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Colrain, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,654 people lived in Colrain on July 1, 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 1,606 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,627 (±200).

  • July 2020→2021 +11 (1,615)
  • 2021→2022 +8 (1,623)
  • 2022→2023 +6 (1,629)
  • 2023→2024 +11 (1,640)
  • 2024→2025 +14 (1,654)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureColrainFranklin CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Total population1,627±20070,9447,044,056no clear change
Households717±8831,5702,785,042no clear change
Average household size2.27±0.212.202.44no clear change
Housing units790±9134,5283,030,406−129

Colrain's population since 2000

From 1,813 in 2000 to 1,654 in 2025: down 8.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Colrain as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 1,813
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,747
  • 2010 Census 1,671
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,655
  • 2020 Census 1,606
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,654

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Colrain?

The median resident of Colrain is 49.6 years old; 15.3% are under 18 and 30.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.6%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureColrainFranklin CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Median age49.6±8.747.240.0no clear change
Under 18 years15.3%±4.1 pts16.6%19.4%–
65 years and over30.4%±6.0 pts24.6%17.9%–
Male53.8%±4.1 pts49.2%48.9%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3.6%±1.8 pts5.4%13.3%–
White alone, not Hispanic90.9%±3.1 pts87.5%66.6%−6.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic1.3%±1.7 pts1.3%6.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.4%±0.4 pts2.0%7.3%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.6 pts0.0%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±2.6 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic3.0%±1.7 pts3.2%5.1%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.8%±0.8 pts0.5%1.2%–
Born outside the United States2.2%±0.7 pts5.0%18.0%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)3.3%±1.3 pts6.7%25.1%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)4.6%±1.4 pts6.0%4.3%–
With a disability14.5%±6.1 pts17.5%12.3%–
No health insurance coverage2.0%±1.2 pts2.1%2.6%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)94.3%±2.5 pts94.5%91.4%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)37.3%±5.7 pts40.6%47.3%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)20.3%±4.4 pts18.5%21.8%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier87.7%±8.0 pts91.6%88.3%–
Moved from another state in the past year2.4%±1.9 pts1.4%2.2%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Colrain earn?

Half of Colrain's 717 households earn less than $80,673 a year (±$9,695), against $74,907 in Franklin County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $77,151 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureColrainFranklin CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$80,673±$9,695$74,907$103,960no clear change
Mean household income$104,593±$13,844$94,042$144,950–
Per capita income$46,105±$4,836$42,563$57,897no clear change
People below the poverty line7.2%±2.3 pts12.1%10.0%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line0.9%±2.0 pts17.0%11.7%–
Households receiving SNAP8.8%±3.8 pts17.0%14.7%–
Households with a computer90.1%±5.8 pts94.5%95.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription88.3%±5.5 pts91.3%92.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Colrain?

Owners occupy 86.5% of Colrain's occupied homes and renters 13.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $284,300 by its owner (±$13,739). The median renter pays $1,102 a month including utilities, and 46.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureColrainFranklin CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$284,300±$13,739$329,000$562,100no clear change
Median gross rent$1,102±$77$1,177$1,762no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent46.0%±27.8 pts48.5%41.8%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,742±$140$1,909$2,726–
Owner-occupied homes86.5%±6.5 pts70.1%62.5%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes13.5%±6.5 pts29.9%37.5%–
Housing units790±9134,5283,030,406−129
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±6.6 pts0.2%0.6%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±33.8 pts1.0%3.5%–
Single-family detached homes84.4%±6.1 pts65.5%51.1%–
Mobile homes1.1%±1.0 pts2.2%0.8%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±5.2 pts0.4%1.0%–
Built 2010 to 20192.7%±1.3 pts3.1%6.2%–
Built 1939 or earlier37.5%±7.2 pts35.1%30.5%–
Households with no vehicle1.3%±1.1 pts7.9%11.7%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Colrain building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Colrain in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.

  • 2019 5 units
  • 2020 5 units
  • 2021 6 units
  • 2022 8 units
  • 2023 9 units
  • 2024 12 units
  • 2025 1 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Colrain work and get to work?

87.1% of Colrain's workers drive alone and 8.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureColrainFranklin CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)62.9%±6.8 pts62.4%67.0%–
Unemployment rate4.1%±2.6 pts5.4%5.2%no clear change
Drove alone to work87.1%±3.4 pts70.3%61.2%–
Carpooled2.9%±2.3 pts9.0%7.0%–
Public transportation0.0%±5.1 pts1.0%6.5%–
Walked1.1%±0.9 pts3.4%4.1%–
Worked from home8.4%±2.6 pts15.1%18.6%no clear change
Mean travel time to work33.6 min±4.223.8 min29.1 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Colrain?

No census tract lies mostly in Colrain; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Colrain, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Colrain
Tract 401Franklin County4,362 $75,125 $287,80030%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Colrain) · Census block assignment files

How does Colrain compare with other places in Massachusetts?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Colrain is the 5,587th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 216th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.

Colrain ranks 372nd of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Colrain's rank in Massachusetts (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate216th266
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)72nd292
Residents per square mile455th461
Median household income372nd453
Per capita income363rd460
Median home value434th459
Median gross rent363rd410
Poverty rate154th338
Bachelor's degree or higher324th459
Median age121st461
Owner-occupied share121st460
Work from home393rd429
Travel time to work103rd459

Colrain's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)

Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Colrain with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Colrain?

15 of the 57 figures for Colrain on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Colrain are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.