Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Hingham vs Oakham
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Heath | Hingham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
765Lowest |
24,283Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49±2.3 23% 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Heath 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 | — | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Hingham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.