Compare towns
Colrain vs Whiting 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Whiting | Oakham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
532Lowest |
1,639Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%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. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9%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%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Whiting and Oakham 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. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Colrain 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None 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.