Compare towns
Colrain vs Otis vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Otis | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,624Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 49% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Otis 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Farmington River Reg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.