Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Jay
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 kids (15.3% under 18).
Heath has the highest household income ($99k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Heath | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
765 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
| Heath and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Jay 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below 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. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% 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. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Heath 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None 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.