Compare towns
Colrain vs Petersham 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 kids (15.3% under 18).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Petersham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,185 |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
| Petersham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Petersham 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham 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±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±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% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Petersham | — |
| 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.