Compare towns
Heath vs Stoneham vs Warwick 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 most people working from home (31.7%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Warwick has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Stoneham | Warwick | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
23,355Highest |
776 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Colrain 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Warwick | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.