Compare towns

Colrain vs Kirby 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).
Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).
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.

MeasureColrainKirbyOtis
People
Population
1,627Highest
756Lowest
1,624
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+1.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
38.8±7.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
51±3.2Highest
31% above U.S.
Otis and Colrain 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%
30%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±3.1
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Kirby 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
$54,792±$21kLowest
32% below U.S.
$108,898±$6kHighest
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$302,900±$63k
9% below U.S.
$396,700±$40kHighest
19% above U.S.
Otis and Kirby 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.
$1,250±$326
12% below U.S.
$1,318±$924Highest
7% below U.S.
Otis and Kirby 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.
$4,597Highest
47% above U.S.
$2,408Lowest
23% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±100Lowest
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%
21.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
34 minLowest
27% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±9.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Otis and Kirby 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 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.