Compare towns
Colrain vs Sandgate vs Wheelock 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
Colrain has the youngest population (median age 49.6).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Heath has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Sandgate | Wheelock | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
435Lowest |
717 |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 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 |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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. |
$193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Heath 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 | 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.