Compare towns
Heath vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Colrain has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Sturbridge | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
9,960Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Sturbridge 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% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.