Compare towns
Colrain vs Middlesex vs Putney 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Otis 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Putney 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Farmington River Reg |
| 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 | 6 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.