Compare towns
Heath vs Marlboro 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 highest household income ($99k).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
1,362 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$77,135±$10kLowest 4% 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±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Marlboro and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Marlboro and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 42% above U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Marlboro School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None 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.