Compare towns
Heath vs Douglas vs Warwick 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%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Warwick has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Douglas | Warwick | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
9,207Highest |
776 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Douglas and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Warwick 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | Warwick | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— | — |
| 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.