What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washington	Heath
People
Population	526Lowest	765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA	53.8±11.9Lowest 35% above MA
	Washington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Washington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	33.6%±8.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Washington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	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	$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA	$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA
	Heath and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA	$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA
	Washington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,381Lowest 27% below MA	$4,438Highest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Heath and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Heath and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.