Compare towns
Heath vs Benson vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Colrain has the youngest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Heath | Benson | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
784 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Heath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 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+ | 46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% 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 | — | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None 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.