Compare towns
Colrain vs Hardwick 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
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Hardwick | Heath | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,965Highest |
765Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% 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. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
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% |
15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath 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 about the U.S. average |
$92,297±$17k 14% above 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. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% 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. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
$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% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Hardwick 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% |
9.7%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% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 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. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.