Compare towns
Colrain vs Braintree 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
Colrain has the youngest population (median age 49.6).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Colrain | Braintree | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.