Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Orange
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
765Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Colrain 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 22% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| 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 49% below MA |
$295,000±$45kHighest 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| 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±$77Highest 37% below MA |
— | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.