Compare towns
Colrain vs Orange vs Heath 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Orange | Heath | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
7,573Highest |
765Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
49±2.3 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Oakham 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 22% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 49% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| 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 28% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.