Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Upton vs Halifax
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).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
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 | Upton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
765Lowest |
8,189Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% 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% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest 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±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Upton 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.