Compare towns
Heath vs Ira vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% 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 | Ira | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
381Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Ira and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira 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 22% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.