Compare towns

Colrain vs Stratton 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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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.

MeasureColrainStrattonHeath
People
Population
1,627Highest
532Lowest
765
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
31.5±4.1Lowest
19% below 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%
28%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
11.7%±4Lowest
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%
33.2%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%
1.3%±2.8Lowest
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±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$122,708±$33kHighest
52% above U.S.
$98,750±$23k
22% above U.S.
Stratton 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
15% below U.S.
$400,000±$50kHighest
20% above U.S.
$295,000±$45k
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,208±$979Highest
15% below U.S.
—
Stratton 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.
$4,750Highest
52% above U.S.
$4,438
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±69.8Lowest
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%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
33 minLowest
24% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.