Compare towns
Heath vs Washington vs Charlemont
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% 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 | Washington | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
1,056 |
1,118Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Lowest 36% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlemont and Heath 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Washington 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 22% above U.S. |
$66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126Highest 28% below U.S. |
| Charlemont and Washington 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. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Hawlemont |
| 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.