Compare towns
Heath vs Dover 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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Dover | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dover and Colrain 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Heath 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.