Compare towns
Colrain vs Lancaster vs Heath
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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Lancaster | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
8,606Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Lancaster 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±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Colrain 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Heath 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.