Compare towns

Heath vs Middlesex vs Charlemont

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%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).

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.

MeasureHeathMiddlesexCharlemont
People
Population
765Lowest
1,943Highest
1,118
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±11.9
38% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
59.6±6.7Highest
53% above U.S.
Charlemont 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%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.6%±8.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
41.1%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Charlemont and Heath 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%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex 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
22% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$53,063±$12kLowest
34% below U.S.
Middlesex and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$295,000±$45kLowest
11% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$305,500±$52k
8% below U.S.
Middlesex and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,023±$126Lowest
28% below U.S.
Middlesex and Charlemont 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.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,351Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.1%±18.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
32% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hawlemont
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.