Compare towns
Colrain vs Jefferson 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).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Jefferson | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest 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%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Jefferson 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. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% 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 | $4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 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.