Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Westhampton 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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Westhampton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
765Lowest |
1,552 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 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% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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% |
25.4%±2.8 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% |
47%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% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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 |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.4% 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 |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Hampshire · Westhampton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.