Compare towns
Colrain vs Jay vs Otis vs Oakham
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 renters (13.5% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Jay | Otis | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
471Lowest |
1,624 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% 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±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% 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 | $4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
39 min 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Farmington River Reg | Quabbin |
| 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.