Compare towns
Heath vs Rowe vs Wheelock 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 most people working from home (31.7%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% 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.
| Measure | Heath | Rowe | Wheelock | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
453Lowest |
717 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Heath and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe and Wheelock 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% |
30.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$69,583±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rowe and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rowe | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.