Compare towns
Colrain vs Webster vs Oakham 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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Webster | Oakham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
17,748Highest |
1,639 |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Oakham 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 22% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Oakham 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
— |
| Webster and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%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 |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Webster | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.