Compare towns
Benson vs Colrain vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Colrain has the youngest population (median age 49.6).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Benson | Colrain | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Benson and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None 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.