What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

Phillipston has the most kids (17% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Heath	Phillipston
People
Population	765Lowest	1,895Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA	48.8±1.7Lowest 22% above MA
	Heath and Phillipston 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%	17%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Phillipston 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%	17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Phillipston 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	$94,692±$14kLowest 9% below MA
	Heath and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA	$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,375±$849 22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 26% below MA	$3,914Lowest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Phillipston and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	92.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.