Compare towns
Colrain vs Heath vs Reading 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).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Heath | Reading | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
765 |
699Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Heath and Reading 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Reading 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 |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Reading 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. |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 | 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.