Compare towns
Heath vs Webster vs Whitman 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%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Webster | Whitman | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Whitman 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.