Compare towns
Colrain vs Dover vs Needham vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Dover | Needham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,308 |
32,459Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham 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 22% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.