Compare towns
Heath vs Nahant 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%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Nahant | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
3,325Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Nahant 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% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant 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 5% below MA |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Nahant 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±$45k 48% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Nahant and Colrain 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Nahant 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 | — | #129 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nahant | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.