Compare towns
Heath vs Dedham vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Dedham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% 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 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 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+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$23k 5% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Dedham 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±$45k 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.