Compare towns
Colrain vs Peru vs Otis
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 renters (13.5% rent).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Peru | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
630Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
| Peru 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% |
16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Peru 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% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Peru 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% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Peru 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 |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Otis and Peru 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 |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 28% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.