Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Middlesex vs Oakham
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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Middlesex | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
765Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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 about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.