Compare towns
Colrain vs Oakham vs Proctor 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).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Oakham | Proctor | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,639 |
1,794Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 9% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Proctor 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 |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis 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. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.