Compare towns
Heath vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Warwick has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Lee | Warwick | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
5,719Highest |
776 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Lee 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Lee 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% |
44.1% 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%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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 |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Lee and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Lee and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Warwick | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.