Compare towns
Colrain vs Otis vs Unity
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).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,624 |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%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% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Otis and Unity 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. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Otis 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Farmington River Reg | Unity School District |
| 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.