Compare towns

Colrain vs Dover 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%).
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.

MeasureColrainDoverOtis
People
Population
1,627Highest
1,466Lowest
1,624
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7Lowest
28% above U.S.
53.5±8.3Highest
38% 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%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±3.1Lowest
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%
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%
2.9%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
about the U.S. average
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$108,898±$6kHighest
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
$396,700±$40kHighest
19% above U.S.
Otis and Dover 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.
$1,318±$924Highest
7% below U.S.
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
38% above U.S.
$4,510Highest
45% 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%±17.2Lowest
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%
1.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1Highest
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 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

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.