Compare towns
Colrain vs Barnet vs Heath vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Colrain | Barnet | Heath | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,855Highest |
765Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | Quabbin |
| 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.