What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Cummington has the highest household income ($104k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Heath	Cummington
People
Population	765Lowest	902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Lowest 35% above MA	55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA
	Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	11.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Heath and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9%	32.2%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Heath and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Cummington 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±$23kLowest 5% below MA	$104,167±$32kHighest about the MA average
	Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA	$300,600±$32kHighest 47% below MA
	Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$825±$365 53% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 26% below MA	$3,875Lowest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Heath and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 20% above MA	39 minHighest 34% above MA
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%	24.9%±10Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Heath and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.