Compare towns
Colrain vs Otis vs Springfield vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Otis | Springfield | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,624 |
154,749Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Otis and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
— |
| Otis and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Farmington River Reg | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.