Compare towns
Colrain vs Dover vs Oakham 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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Dover | Oakham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,466Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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±$10k about the U.S. average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis 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. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham 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. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Quabbin | 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.