Compare towns
Colrain vs Otis vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Otis | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,624Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% 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% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Otis and Colrain 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. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Springfield 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Farmington River Reg | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.