Compare towns
Heath vs Easthampton vs Rowe 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%).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Easthampton | Rowe | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
16,086Highest |
453Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% 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% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 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% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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 5% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| 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±$45k 48% below MA |
$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Rowe and Easthampton 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 |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Easthampton 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 | — | #92 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Easthampton | Rowe | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Easthampton High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.