What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlemont has the most affordable homes ($306k median).

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.

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

Measure	Charlemont	Otis
People
Population	1,118Lowest	1,624Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA	51±3.2Lowest 28% above MA
	Charlemont and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.1%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%	28%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Charlemont and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%	39.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA	$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA	$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA
	Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA	$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA
	Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 27% below MA	$2,408Lowest 60% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.1%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest MA: 10%	1.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hawlemont	Farmington River Reg
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.