Compare towns
Colrain vs Charlemont vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Charlemont | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,118Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
51±3.2 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 | 15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 22% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 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 | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,351Highest 27% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 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 | 7.2% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 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 | Mohawk Trail | Hawlemont | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.