Compare towns
Colrain vs Castleton vs Heath 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).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | Heath | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
4,453Highest |
765Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 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±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% 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 |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% 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% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Otis 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 | — | 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 | 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.