Compare towns
Heath vs Needham 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 the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Needham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| 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%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Heath 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.