Compare towns
Colrain vs Peru 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 youngest population (median age 49.6).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Peru | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
630Lowest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath and Peru 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% |
16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Peru 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% |
29.7%±6.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Peru 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 |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
| Heath and Peru 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 |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$295,000±$45kHighest 48% below MA |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | — |
| High school 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.