Compare towns
Colrain vs Halifax vs Hardwick 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Halifax | Hardwick | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
847 |
2,684Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hardwick 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% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Heath 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Hardwick and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 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. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Halifax School District | 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.