Compare towns

Colrain vs Erving vs Halifax 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

Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Heath has the highest household income ($99k).

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.

MeasureColrainErvingHalifaxHeath
People
Population
1,627
1,703Highest
847
765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
43.3±2.4
11% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% 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%
16.3%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Heath and Colrain 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
$77,656±$9k
4% below U.S.
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
$98,750±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
Heath and Colrain 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.
$271,800±$20k
18% below U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$295,000±$45kHighest
11% below U.S.
Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$1,163±$213Highest
18% below U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% below U.S.
—
Erving 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.
$1,870Lowest
40% below U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,438
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.5%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Erving 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 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
6% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
3.6%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Erving Halifax School District —
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.