Compare towns

Colrain vs Brookline vs Heath

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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

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.

MeasureColrainBrooklineHeath
People
Population
1,627Highest
531Lowest
765
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Lowest
16% above U.S.
53.8±11.9Highest
38% 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%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Colrain 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%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.6%±8.2Highest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Heath and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$98,750±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
Heath and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$295,000±$45kHighest
11% below U.S.
Heath and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$5,000Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,438
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail — —
High school 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.