Compare towns
Heath vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
5,405Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±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% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Colrain 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 22% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield 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 11% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Wakefield 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Wakefield School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.