Compare towns
Colrain vs Jay vs Oakham vs Heath
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Jay | Oakham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
471Lowest |
1,639Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest 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% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Heath 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Heath 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Oakham and Colrain 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
39 min 46% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest 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 | 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.