Compare towns
Heath vs Ware vs Rowe 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%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Ware | Rowe | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
6,369Highest |
453Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
— | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.4 22% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Rowe 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| 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 48% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| 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 26% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| 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 |
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.