Compare towns
Colrain vs Springfield vs Oakham 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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Springfield | Oakham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,122 |
1,639Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Heath and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| 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 38% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None 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.