Compare towns
Colrain vs Plainfield vs Whitingham 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
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Whitingham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,314 |
1,368 |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Colrain 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain 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. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.