Compare towns
Colrain vs Castleton vs Charlemont 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Colrain | Castleton | Charlemont | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
4,453Highest |
1,118Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Colrain 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlemont 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%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% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Otis 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hawlemont | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.