Compare towns
Colrain vs Marlboro 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).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,362Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$77,135±$10kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55k 7% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Marlboro 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. |
$1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Marlboro and Otis 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. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marlboro and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Marlboro School District | 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 |
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.