Compare towns
Colrain vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Dedham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
25,237Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Otis 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 MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Dedham and Otis 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dedham | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.