Compare towns
Colrain vs Newark 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 renters (13.5% rent).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Newark | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
727Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
41.4±6Lowest 6% above 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newark 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% |
19.9%±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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Newark and Otis 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. |
$3,771 21% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.

